But what did that signify to me? If she had strung pearls together, I should not have valued them one-half so much as I did the dear words which revealed her interest in me. Over and over I read the note, at first rapturously, afterwards with a second feeling mingling with my joy. How did she know it was I who had taken up my residence at River Hall? Not a soul I knew in London, besides Mr. Craven, was aware of the fact, and he had promised faithfully to keep my secret. Where, then, had Miss Elmsdale obtained her information? from whom had she learned that I was bent on solving the mystery of the "Uninhabited House"? I puzzled myself over these questions till my brain grew uneasy with vain conjectures. Let me imagine what I would--let me force my thoughts into what grooves I might--the moment the mental pressure was removed, my suspicions fluttered back to the man whose face seemed not unfamiliar. "I am confident he wants to keep that house vacant," I decided. "Once let me discover who he is, and the mystery of the 'Uninhabited House' shall not long remain a mystery." But then the trouble chanced to be how to find out who he was. I could not watch and be watched at the same time, and I did not wish to take anyone into my confidence, least of all a professional detective. So far fortune had stood my friend; I had learnt something suspected by no one else, and I made up my mind to trust to the chapter of accidents for further information on the subject of my unknown friend. When Mr. Craven and I were seated at our respective tables, I said to him: "Could you make any excuse to send me to Miss Blake's to-day, sir?" Mr. Craven looked up in utter amazement. "To Miss Blake's!" he repeated. "Why do you want to go there?" "I want to see Miss Elmsdale," I answered, quietly enough, though I felt the colour rising in my face as I spoke. "You had better put all that nonsense on one side, Patterson," he remarked. "What you have to do is to make your way in the world, and you will not do that so long as your head is running upon pretty girls. Helena Elmsdale is a good girl; but she would no more be a suitable wife for you, than you would be a suitable husband for her. Stick to law, my lad, for the present, and leave love for those who have nothing more important to think of." "I did not want to see Miss Elmsdale for the purpose you imply," I said, smiling at the vehemence of Mr. Craven's advice. "I only wish to ask her one question." "What is the question?" "From whom she learned that I was in residence at River Hall," I answered, after a moment's hesitation. "What makes you think she is aware of that fact?" he inquired. "I received a note from her last night, entreating me to leave the place, and intimating that some vague peril menaced me if I persisted in remaining there."