But what was his mission? Angus did not know very well himself as the train steamed towards Desleigh. It seemed to him that he could do very little towards elucidating the mystery of his uncle's death. He was ignorant of all things, since he had been asleep during the commission of the crime. But Gowrie might have learned something, and Herries privately suspected that Gowrie had been wide awake all that eventful night. Also, since he had been wandering over the house, he might have chanced on some suspicious circumstances. At all events, the old man had evidently found out something, when he sent so peremptory a note. It was, therefore, with great surprise that Herries, on arriving at the inn, was met with the news that Gowrie was not within. "Where is he?" he asked the new maid, Alice, who gave him this information in the well-known tap-room. "I can't tell you, sir," she replied, timidly. "He went out last night just before dinner, and never came back." "Strange," Herries recalled the omitted Desleigh post-mark, and felt uneasy. "Can I see Mrs. Narby?" "Missus have gone to London to see her son." "And the landlord?" "He's in London, too, seeing about selling the inn," said Alice, glibly. "Selling the inn?" "Yes, sir. Master and Missus are going to America." "The deuce they are," murmured Herries rather perplexed, "Now what does that mean? I wish I could find Gowrie. I wonder if he has been kidnapped also," he added smiling, and little knew how near he was to the truth. "Well, I'd better utilize the time at my disposal and call on Armour," and he turned away. The next words of Alice arrested him. "Please, sir, won't you see the lady, sir? She's in the parlour waiting for you." "A lady. Who is she?" "Oh, the most beautiful lady you ever set eyes on. She came here an hour ago, and said that she wanted to see you, sir." "Mr. Herries?" "Yes, sir, and I know you're Mr. Herries, 'cos I saw you when you was arrested for----" "There--there," interrupted the young man wincing, for he did not like to be reminded of that ugly episode. "Take me to the lady. I expect it's Señora Guzman, or Maud." The stuffy parlour looked a duller apartment than ever as Herries opened the door and stepped in. He half expected to see Maud, but instead faced a tall lady with the look of a queen, who rose and smiled as he entered. From the description given by Kind, Angus had no doubt but what this was the daughter of the Indiana ex-president. "How do you do, Mr. Herries?" she said in excellent English. "You are surprised to meet me here, instead of your father-in-law." "What, you know----?" "I know that Mr. Gowrie wrote you a letter asking you to come to this place," said Señora Guzman composedly. "Then you know where he is?" "I do." "Can you tell me----?" "Not at present," she interrupted, "but later you shall know everything, Mr. Herries." "About the murder?" he asked looking at her in a penetrating manner, and trying to read her thoughts.