Marie turned triumphantly to Alan. “There!” she cried, “what did I tell you, my dear? That horrid woman is hiding in The Monastery after all.” CHAPTER XIX AT DAWN It had been Alan’s intention to send Marie back to Belstone by herself, and ask his father to meet her at Lewes, so that she could sleep at the vicarage. He had spent a great deal of time over the business connected with the murder of Grison and the finding of the jewels, therefore his clients were being neglected, much to their annoyance. His days of searching could scarcely have said to have been wasted, since they had ended in the acquisition of a fortune. Certainly it did not belong to him, but as he was to marry the girl who possessed it, in the end he would undoubtedly benefit. All the same he decided that he would have to attend to his own affairs, and it was only the fact that Miss Grison was not at Thimble Square, which caused him to change his mind. He therefore returned to the village with Marie, and what is more, insisted that Dick should return with him. “We must get to the bottom of these matters,” said Alan late that afternoon; “and if Marie will not sleep at The Monastery, Dick, you and I must do so.” “Oh, Alan,” cried Miss Inderwick nervously, “why need you and Mr. Latimer do that when there is no need?” “I think there is every need,” rejoined her lover dryly. “Your remark as to inexplicable noises has aroused Moon’s suspicions, and I should not be surprised if he either sent back that detective to keep watch, or came himself to-night or to-morrow.” “But how can our sleeping there alter Moon’s intentions?” asked Latimer. “I want to learn the meaning of these noises, so you and I, Dicky, can keep watch, while Marie is safe at the vicarage.” “If the noises are caused by Sorley,” said Dick leisurely, and rather uncomfortably, “and we find that he has gone to earth there, you can’t expect me to hold my tongue.” “Uncle Ran is innocent,” protested Marie furiously. “If he is—and I sincerely hope for your sake, that such is the case—it will be much better for him to come forward and face the worst. Otherwise, he will remain a hunted fugitive. Believe me, Miss Inderwick, by refusing to compound a felony—for that is what silence in this matter amounts to, as Alan will tell you—I am doing Mr. Sorley a greater service than you think.” “I agree with Dick,” said Fuller quickly, and before Marie could make another protest; “it is best to bring matters to a head. If Mr. Sorley is indeed hiding at The Monastery, he is bound to be discovered some time, especially after the unconscious hint you gave Inspector Moon, my dear.” “I don’t believe Uncle Ran is there,” declared Marie pouting. “If he were he would look to me to give him food and drink, and he knows—as I said before, Alan—that he can trust me. It is that horrid woman.” “If Miss Grison is there, all the more reason Dick and I should sleep in the house, and learn what she is driving at.”