"I can claim nothing on the score of politeness or gallantry," Rupert Ravenspur replied. He was quiet and polished as usual, but there was a look of deep distress on his face. "I came here not to see you, but in the faint hope of finding my nephew Geoffrey. I have ascertained that he came to see you sometimes." "He has been so good," Mrs. May murmured. "I assure you I appreciate the company of a gentleman in this deserted spot." "Then he has not been here to-day?" "I have not had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Geoffrey to-day." Ravenspur groaned. He turned his face away ashamed that a woman should see him in a moment of weakness. Out of the corner of her eye she regarded him. There was not a drop of pity in her heart for him. "I hope you don't anticipate anything wrong," she said. "Mr. Geoffrey is not a boy that he cannot----" "Oh, you do not understand! It is not that at all. In ordinary circumstances I could trust Geoffrey to the end of the world. He is a good fellow, and capable of taking care of himself and upholding the family honor. But others as strong and more cunning have fallen before the dreaded foe, until all confidence has left us. I fear much that harm has come to Geoffrey." "But surely in the broad daylight----" "Daylight or darkness, it is the same. You know nothing of the boy?" "Nothing, save that he was going fishing to-day." Ravenspur started. "Oh," he cried. "Then I shall soon know the worst. I am sorry to have troubled you; I will go down to the beach. The others are searching in all directions. Nobody will return to the house until we know the lad's fate." Ravenspur bowed and was gone. Mrs. May smiled after him. So the castle was going to be left for the time being. "This is a chance not to be lost," she murmured. "The full run of the castle! Fate is playing into my hands with a vengeance." Full of the wildest apprehensions, Ravenspur made his way to the beach. It was no easy task for a man of his years, but he made light of it, as he used to half a century ago. Two fishermen coming up touched their hats. "Have you been out to the west of Gull Point to-day?" Ravenspur asked. "No, sir," was the reply. "Not one of us. The mackerel came in from the east, and there were so many we had every bottom afloat. I did hear as Mr. Geoffrey had gone out in the West Bay, but I can't say for sure." Again Ravenspur groaned; no longer had he the least doubt about what had happened. There had been more foul play, and Geoffrey had gone down under the dark waters. The old man's heart was full to bursting, but his grief was for Vera more than for himself. "I am afraid there has been another of those tragedies that are so mournfully identified with our name," he said. "Wass and Watkins, will you come with me?"