"Dear, dear! How strange! But still, you do not know that anything has happened. You will tell the police, of course. Can you give a description of your father, my boy?" "I can show his likeness, sir," replied Ralph, taking out his pocket-book. "Here it is!" Lord Elgert took the photograph, but as he looked at it he gave a whistle of surprise. "So this is the missing man?" he said. "St. Clive, perhaps, I can tell you something of interest. Last night my place was broken into, and I woke up to hear a man in my study. I went down and switched on the electric light, so that I could see the rascal quite plainly. He turned and tried to bolt, but I closed with him, and in the rough-and-tumble he managed to cut my hand open and clear off. St. Clive, I am positive that the man was none other than the original of this likeness, and----" He was interrupted by a passionate cry of pain and anger, and Ralph, snatching the photograph from his hand, stood confronting him with blazing eyes. "It is false!" he cried. "You know it is false! I believe that you are responsible for my father's disappearance!" CHAPTER III MR. ST. CLIVE PROVES HIMSELF A TRUE FRIEND "I believe that you are responsible for my father's disappearance." So did Ralph Rexworth cry in his anger; and Lord Elgert started, and his face grew dark with rage. "You impudent young dog!" he shouted, raising his stick; and the blow would have fallen, had not Mr. St. Clive stopped it with his arm. "Lord Elgert," he said sternly; for he was shocked at the callous way in which the charge had been made, "I cannot stand by and allow that. You have made a very serious charge----" "Nothing so serious as that young rascal has made. I am surprised that you stand by and listen to it, St. Clive; but you always were antagonistic to me! I assert what is fact. My place was broken into----" "Did any one but yourself see this man?" "An absurd question! Who was there to see him? By the time the alarm was given he was gone. I shall have to tell the police of that photograph; it will be wanted to help in tracing him. I expect this story is all nonsense; and upon inquiry it will be found that the farthest these two have travelled is from London. Most probably this boy, who makes such unfounded charges, knew well the business which brought his father here. The story of what happened in the woods is really too romantic. If two people were there, the second was most likely an accomplice; and they have gone off, leaving the boy here to see what he can learn, or pick up. You are easily deceived, St. Clive." And Lord Elgert turned upon his heel with a mocking laugh. But ere he could go, Ralph stood in his path, regarding him with a fixed stare. "I do not know you," he said. "I never saw you before; but I can tell friend from enemy, and you are an enemy. I am only a boy; but one day I will bring your words back to you, and make you prove them."