"MY DEAR CLAUDE [wrote Hilliston]: Mrs. Hilliston has decided to leave town for Eastbourne this week, so it is probable we will see you and Mr. Tait down there. If you can spare the time come to dinner at half-past seven to-night, and tell me how you are getting on with your case. "Yours very sincerely, "FRANCIS HILLISTON." "Well," said Claude, as Tait silently returned the letter, "what do you think?" "I think that Hilliston intends to look up Jenny Paynton." "I can see that," replied Claude impatiently, "but touching this invitation to dinner." "Accept." "But I promised to see my mother to-night, and tell her about John Parver. She will expect me, as I have written." "I will take your apologies to her," said Tait quietly. "You?" "Yes. Listen to me, Claude," continued the little man in a tone of suppressed excitement. "You will keep your belief in Hilliston. I tell you he is your enemy and wishes you to leave this case alone. To-night he will make one last attempt to dissuade you. If he succeeds he will not go to Eastbourne. If he fails you can depend on it he will try and see Jenny before we do. Now, to thwart his aims we will go down to Thorston by an early train to-morrow morning." "But I must see my mother before I leave town." "No! I will tell her all she wishes to know." "She might not like it." "This is not a case for likes or dislikes," said Tait grimly; "but a question of getting the better of Hilliston. You must dine with him to-night, and find out, if possible, if it was his wife or himself who suggested this visit to Eastbourne. You need not tell him we go down to-morrow. Say you don't know--that you await my decision. Try and learn all you can of his attitude and plans. Then we will discuss the matter when you return. On my part," continued Tait significantly, "I may have some something to say about your mother." "You want to see her?" "Yes. I am extremely anxious to see her." "Perhaps you suspect her!" cried Claude, in a fiery tone. "Bless the man, what a temper he has!" said Tait jocosely. "I don't suspect anyone except Hilliston. But I am quicker than you, and I wish to learn precisely what your mother has to say. A chance remark on her part may set us on the right path." "Well, I will be guided by you," said Claude, in a few minutes. "You can go to Hampstead, and I will dine with Hilliston. But I don't like the task. To sit at a man's table and scheme against him is not my idea of honor." "Nor is it mine. You are doing no such thing. All I wish you to do is to observe Hilliston's attitude and hold your tongue. There is nothing wrong in that. I want to find out his motive for this behavior." "Then why not see him yourself!"