"I only think so. The Quiet Gentleman has disappeared. Probably he killed the doctor, and then took my father's body." "It might be so, miss. If I find him----" Joe repeated his former savage declaration, and Miss Vicky duly shuddered. "Then you can't help us in any way, Joe?" said Alan, eying him thoughtfully. "No, sir, I can't. I don't know who carried off the Cap'n, and I don't know who stabbed the doctor. If I did, I'd kill him. When you find him, sir, let me know." After which speech the old sailor again pulled his forelock, scraped his foot, and rolled out of the room. He appeared somewhat relieved to get away. Alan did not quite know what to make of Joe. The man was so nervous that it seemed as though he knew something and was afraid of committing himself. On the other hand, this sailor was devoted to Sophy, and had been in Marlow's service for thirty years. It was only reasonable to conclude, therefore, that he would wish her to benefit by any knowledge he might possess. On the whole, Alan was perplexed, but he kept it to himself, determining, nevertheless, to keep an eye on Joe. When the door was closed, Sophy turned to Alan. "Alan," she said slowly, "I love you dearly, as you know, and I wish to become your wife. But I swear by the memory of my father that until you find out who has done this wicked thing and bring the man to justice, I will not marry you!" "Sophy!" cried Thorold entreatingly. "I mean what I say," repeated the girl, in a low, fierce voice. "We must avenge my father. When the wretch is caught and hanged, then I'll marry you, Alan." "Sophia, a marriage under such circumstances----" "Miss Parsh," cried Sophy, turning on the meek old maid, "do you think I can sit down tamely under this insult to the dead? My father's body has been carried off. It must be found again before I marry--before I can think of marriage, Alan." "Sophy is right," cried Thorold, drawing the girl to him and kissing her. "She is right, Miss Parsh. I swear also that I will devote my life to solving this mystery. Your father's body shall be brought back, Sophy, and the murderer of Dr. Warrender shall hang. Good-bye, dear. To-day I go to London. The first step towards the discovery of this crime will be to see Cicero Gramp. He may supply the clue." "Yes, yes. Bribe him; pay him anything, so long as you get at the truth." Alan kissed the girl again, and then left the room. Before he started, he intended to see the Rector and the local inspector of police. As he stepped out on to the road, he noticed Phelps coming along in the hot sunshine. The little parson was puffing and blowing and wiping his forehead. "Alan! Alan!" he called out in short gasps as he came within speaking distance. "She's gone! She's gone to----" "She! Gone! Who's gone? Where?" "Why, Mrs. Warrender! She's disappeared. Oh, dear me; how terrible all this is! Whew!" CHAPTER VI. THE MISSING KEY.