ster. He'd have nabbed you that very time,
but for my putting him off the scent as I did."

"Yes, yes, I am aware you did it for the best, and I suppose it turned
out to be so," quickly replied Val, some of his native kindliness
resuming its sway. "It's an unfortunate affair altogether, and that's
the best that can be said of it."

"What I came up here for was to tell you he was gone."

"Who is gone?"

"The shark."

"Gone!"

"He went off by the seven train. Lord Hartledon told him he'd communicate
with his principals and see that the affair was arranged. It satisfied
the man, and he went away by the next train--which happened to be the
seven-o'clock one."

"How do you know this?" asked Mr. Elster.

"This way," was the answer. "I was hovering about outside that shed of
mine, and I saw the encounter at the parson's gate--for that's where it
took place. The first thing the fellow did when it was all over was to
bolt across the road, and accuse me of purposely misleading him. 'Not a
bit of it,' said I; 'if I did mislead you, it was unintentional, for I
took the one who came over the bridge on Saturday to be Lord Hartledon,
safe as eggs. But they have been down here only a week,' I went on, 'and
I suppose I don't know 'em apart yet.' I can't say whether he believed
me; I think he did; he's a soft sort of chap. It was all right, he said:
the earl had passed his word to him that it should be made so without his
arresting Mr. Elster, and he was off to London at once."

"And he has gone?"

Mr. Pike nodded significantly. "I watched him go; dodged him up to the
station and saw him off."

Then this one danger was over! Val might breathe freely again.

"And I thought you would like to know the coast was clear; so I came up
to tell you," concluded Pike.

"Thank you for your trouble," said Mr. Elster. "I shall not forget it."

"You'll remember it, perhaps, if a question arises touching that shed,"
spoke the man. "I may need a word sometime with Lord Hartledon."

"I'll remember it, Pike. Here, wait a moment. Is Thomas Pike your real
name?"

"Well, I conclude it is. Pike was the name of my father and mother. As to
Thomas--not knowing where I was christened, I can't go and look at the
register; but they never called me anything but Tom. Did you wish to know
particularly?"

There was a tone of mockery in the man's answer, not altogether
acceptable to his hearer; and he let him go without further hindrance.
But the m