"We have made discoveries," replied Bob, giving me a significant look. "Barbara here had no idea what was in the house, which proves that she is not one of the prying kind. All sorts of things have been bundled out of sight in odd nooks and corners, crockery, cutlery, table linen, and goodness only knows what. We have made another room ready for Barbara to sleep in to-night; it is on the same floor as this, and she says she is not afraid." "Not a bit," said Barbara, "now I aint in the 'ouse alone." "And she's going to bed early," added Bob. "As soon as ever you tell me," said Barbara. The dinner they had prepared was not at all a bad one, and I was hungry enough to enjoy a much worse fare. To Barbara it was a veritable feast, and she did as much justice to it as she had done to the breakfast. The moment we finished she jumped up, and took the plates and dishes to her own room where she washed them up. "You have something to tell me, Bob," I said, taking advantage of her absence. "I have. You have something in your budget, too." "Yes." "We will wait till Barbara has gone to bed; we can talk more freely then." "I have a question to ask her first," I said. "I also want a little information from her, the meaning of which you will understand when we are alone for the night." The little girl entering at this moment, Bob turned his attention to her. "Barbara, was your sister fond of dress?" "Lor', sir," answered Barbara. "Aint all gals fond of it? She used to say if she was a lady she'd allus dress in silk." "Do you recollect what frock she wore when you saw her last?" "It was a cotton frock, sir--pink, with little flowers on it. Miss Beatrice give it to 'er." "You would know it again, I suppose, if you saw it?" "In course I should know it, sir, 'cause Molly'd be in it." "But it would be worn out by this time, Barbara." "Yes, sir, it would. I didn't think of that." "Do you recollect the dress that Miss Beatrice wore when you saw her last?" "I should think I do, sir; it _was_ a beauty. A gray silk, it wos, with steel trimmin's. She looked lovely in it, she did." Bob conveyed in a glance at me that he had no further questions to ask, and I took up the cue. "You have a good memory, Barbara, and I dare say you can give me a description of Mr. Nisbet. You told us he was not a nice looking gentleman." "Not at all, sir, though he did 'ave a 'igh fore'ead. 'E 'ad a look like ice in his eyes." "What color were they?" "A kind of cold blue; and 'e 'ad a red beard and mustache." "A tall gentleman, Barbara?" "Yes, sir. 'E didn't have no 'at on when 'e came into the kitching, and I sor that 'is 'ead wos bald in the middle, and was flattish at the top. As 'e looked round the kitching 'e put a pair of gold spectacles on, and when they wosn't on 'is eye 'e was allus a-dangling 'em with 'is fingers, twiddling 'em about like." "You don't seem to have liked his looks?"