Dr. Jim shook his head. The thing was beyond him. He replaced the Chinese paper in his pocket-book, and cut out the notice in the Telegraph. "I say Stephen," he said while thus employed, "did your uncle take in the 'Daily Telegraph?'" "Yes! He used to pass it on to Bess when he had done with it." "There you see!" cried Jim triumphantly, "another link. This cipher has been put in the newspaper your uncle usually read. Oh, be sure it has to do with his business--perhaps with his death. Well, we shall see." Nothing more was said about the matter, as the two were a trifle exhausted by their efforts to read the ciphers. When the train arrived at the Beorminster Station, they were met by Frank Endicotte, who came towards them in a state of excitement usually foreign to his nature. "Glad to see you fellows back," said Frank shaking hands. "Bess got the wire you sent Steve, and insisted that I should meet you here. I have brought a cart, borrowed it from Pentland Corn. He wanted his groom to come too, but there was not enough room for four. Got much luggage?" "No! Only a couple of portmanteaux. The heavy baggage is coming on by a goods train," laughed Stephen. "I have been buying up the whole of London! I say Frank how are the Biffs?" "All right," replied Frank as they put up the portmanteaux on the dog-cart. "Up you get Steve. Will you drive, or you Herrick?" "No!" replied the doctor grimly, "you have undertaken the responsibility of that horse. If I kill it, Corn will blame me. Drive yourself. I'll stick on behind." "No! No," protested Stephen, "get up in front Herrick." "Certainly not. The Lord of the Manor of Saxham must have the first place." He swung himself up to the back seat, "send her along Frank." In a few minutes they were rattling home along the Southberry road, and Frank was telling Marsh-Carr all that had been done at 'The Pines.' It seemed that Bess and Ida had engaged a moderate staff of servants, the most indispensable that is; as they left the choice of the others to Stephen. The house had been cleaned from top to bottom, food had been got in, and a good dinner awaited the travellers. "Bess, Ida and I are coming over later on," explained Frank, "we want to hear of your adventures." "I am afraid we have none," said Marsh-Carr with a laugh. Herrick said nothing. He was thinking, if he told all he had discovered and talked about his suspicions, he might create a sensation. However the time was not yet ripe to take the Biffs into his confidence. Bess was the one he would consult if necessary.