"Yes, and I suppose we ought to deduce something more from the episode. I've already concluded that the high piping voice he used might well have concealed an accent, and I've also decided from what I've heard of the local language since that he hadn't the native intonation." "And he headed for the beach," added my cousin. "Therefore he certainly did not come from any house in the near neighbourhood." "That puts the doctor's house out of court, if you're right. But he may possibly have thought it better not to do his dressing up at home." "I see you've still got you knife into O'Brien!" laughed my cousin. "But I think my notion is the likeliest--" He broke off suddenly and we instinctively moved a pace further apart. A figure had appeared round a turn of the road just ahead of us, a trim, dainty figure, delightful to see in such a place, but a little disconcerting to see so suddenly and so close to us. It was Jean Rendall, looking her best, but not, it seemed to me, quite in the right place. Had she noticed anything? There was not a sign of it in her greeting. She gave us both one of her quick smiles, and as Jack pulled up to speak to her, she stopped too, and in talking to him, I noticed afresh how full of expression those neatly chiselled, rather petite, features became when she talked, and what a charming little air of knowing her way about the world she had. Young though she was, I could see in her very clearly either a valuable friend or a dangerous enemy--and what an easy girl to fall in love with, had circumstances been very different! Jack explained in a very natural off-hand manner how he came to be in Mr. Hobhouse's company, and Mr. Hobhouse corroborated his statement in his own effusive way. And then as we parted, she threw her smile full on that gentleman, and asked, "Why haven't you been to see us again, Mr. Hobhouse? Do come to tea one day!" Mr. Hobhouse gabbled a polite but slightly, evasive reply, and we walked on. "Do you mean to say," demanded my cousin, "that you have only been to see this delectable lady once?" "That's all," I admitted. "What's the reason? It isn't very like our methods, Roger." "It isn't," I admitted again. "But then you see what with pestilential weather and all these antiquarian visits to pay, my available time has been pretty well occupied." "But that house is one to keep a particular eye on." "That house has got a pair of particularly bright eyes in it. On my one visit there I felt a little too like walking on the edge of a precipice to wish to repeat the experience often. If that girl suspects me, Jack, and _if_ she isn't the right sort, we are dished." "Oh, dash it. I can't believe she's mixed up in this business!" he declared. "Of course one mustn't trust anybody; still, that doesn't prevent your going to tea with her. In fact what you really ought to be doing is making love to her--so long as you keep your head."