“Out with it, man,” cried Mr. Cory; “if it is something that cannot be undertaken, no harm will be done.” “Then here you are, sir. It is necessary that I should gain a little insight into the doings of the family of Mr. David Stavanger, for I am convinced that either he or his son knows where the still missing diamonds could be found. There is an advertisement in to-day’s paper for a holiday governess to the youngest Miss Stavanger, a girl of twelve. To-morrow morning I intended going to the office of Messrs. Bell and White, private inquiry agents, to ask them to send their principal lady detective, Miss Dora Bell, to try for the appointment, as a governess has many means of gaining information concerning what is going on in a household. Now, if you----” “Not another word, I will turn detective, and beard these lions in their own den,” was Annie’s exclamation. “But how about references? Besides, they would know your name, perhaps,” objected Mr. Cory. “You dear innocent,” remarked Miss Margaret, with the calmness born of superior wisdom; “when one takes up detective work, one has not to be too squeamish about ways and means, and you may trust us to devise some scheme to circumvent these villains. If Annie can’t get the post, I’ll try to make myself look more youthful, and make a bid for the appointment.” Somehow, any lurking objections which Mr. Cory might have had were all overcome, and when Hilton went home that night, many arrangements for the future had been made. Subject to Mrs. Riddell’s own consent, it had been decided that it would be best for her to live with Miss Margaret for a while. Mr. Cory, very much to his own surprise, found himself enrolled as an amateur detective, liable to be called upon for active service at any time. Annie, instead of moping at home and giving way to melancholy, was bent upon yielding efficient help as a lady detective, and Hilton meant to be guided by the exigencies of the moment. The avowed end and aim of all these good people was to bring the man who was responsible for Harley Riddell’s imprisonment to justice. The progress of our story will show how they went about their new employment, and what were the results of their endeavours as amateur detectives. CHAPTER III. “MISS ANNIE CORY IS CONFIDENTIAL.” A few days after the events narrated in the last chapter, Miss Margaret Cory was reading aloud from some manuscript which she had just received by post. Her audience was small, being composed of two individuals with whom we are already acquainted--to wit, her brother, Mr. Cory, and Hilton Riddell, who both listened to her with curious interest. You and I too, dear readers, will take the liberty of hearing what Miss Cory had to say.