placid expression on his face, like that of one who, after a long mental struggle, has come to a final decision and found peace.

With as much sad deliberation as if he were committing a dear one to the grave, he placed the separate packets of manuscripts in different envelopes. The first and largest he addressed in a bold clear hand, "To Mrs. Philip Hadleigh. To be opened after my death."

Over the second packet his pen was poised for some moments, and his hand was not so steady as before when he began to write.

"To my son, Philip Hadleigh. To be opened after my death and read by him alone.

When

he has read, he shall decide whether to burn at once or first to show it to his wife. The secret of my life is here."

As his pen stopped, a chill blast passed through the room, making the lamplight waver, as if it were about to be extinguished. Mr. Hadleigh, surprised, raised his head slowly, and slowly looked round.

The window behind him was open, and before it stood a tall, rough-looking, muscular

man. Mr. Hadleigh's sallow cheeks became more sallow, his eyes started, and his lips trembled slightly. He recovered himself instantly, and rising calmly from his seat, and at the same moment lifting the shade from the lamp, his eyes remaining fixed all the time on the intruder, burglar, intending murderer, perhaps.

When the light was uncovered, the man drew back a pace with a kind of growl of surprise. Mr. Hadleigh retained perfect selfpossession; but he was not much relieved from apprehension by recognising in his midnight visitor the leader of the agricultural agitators who had on various occasions openly declared antagonism to the master of Ringsford.

CHAPTER L.

A CROW TO PLUCK.

THE two men stared at each other—Mr. Hadleigh with an expression of stern inquiry; Caleb with a sullen audacity which failed to conceal the confusion and disappointment he felt. But he made no attempt to apologise, to explain, or to retreat.

After a brief inspection of the man, Mr. Hadleigh was re-assured: this was no common burglar he had to deal with, and no immediate violence was to be feared.

"My good man," he said calmly, "you have wasted your time and labour if you expected to find money or plate here. That safe, which you see is open, contains my cheque-books; but they are worthless to you without my signature. As for what plate and jewels. there may be to reward your adventure, they

are in different parts of the house, and before you can leave this room to seek them you must murder me. And before you do that, I shall sound this alarm."

As he spoke he took up a green cord which lay beside his desk. The cord communicated with a bell in the butler's room, which if rung at that time of night would certainly have aroused the household.

"I didn't come here to rob; I didn't expect to find you in this room, and I don't mean to hurt

you.'

Gruff and surly as Caleb's manner was, Hadleigh, even in that moment of peril, did him justice.

"I believe you, Kersey," he said quietly; "and to prove it, I shall sit down and listen to what explanation you have to give. Something very unusual there must be to have caused you to act as you have done. I told you at the end of the harvest that if I could serve you at any time, I should be pleased to do so. Is that why you have come?"

"No," was the sulky answer.

Although tortured by passion, Caleb was not only sensible of the confidence which Mr. Hadleigh showed him under such peculiar circumstances, but felt his self-respect raised by it, and was wishful to make matters clear. The thing somehow stuck in his throat, for he who had broken into the house at midnight had to tell this man of his son's guilt-as he believed—and of Pansy's shame.

"Then what did bring you here and in such an outrageous fashion?"

"I thought to find your son Mr. Coutts here. I've been waiting for him nigh on six hours. When he came, he wouldn't tell me the truth, wouldn't wait to speak to me, and I am determined that he shall not only speak to me this night, but speak true. I thought I heard him hollering to me from that window. I didn't want to make a row if it could be helped, so I got a ladder and came in, meaning to ask him to do things straight and quiet. That's all."

As Coutts' room was above the library, Mr. Hadleigh comprehended the mistake

VOL III.

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