ld upon him; and if he turns round on you,
you may keep him in check with it. Only let me alight on him; I'll so
frighten him as to cause him to ship himself off for life."

"I don't like that detective's having gone down to Calne," remarked Lord
Hartledon.

Neither did Mr. Carr, especially if Gordon, or Gorton, should have become
talkative, as there was reason to believe he had.

"Gordon is in England, and in hiding; probably in London, for there's no
place where you may hide so effectually. One thing I am astonished at:
that he should show himself openly as George Gorton."

"Look here, Carr," said Lord Hartledon, leaning forward; "I don't
believe, in spite of you and the detective, that Gordon, our Gordon, was
the one connected with the mutiny. I might possibly get a description
of that man from Gum of Calne; for his son was coming home in the same
ship--was one of those killed."

"Who's Gum of Calne?"

"The parish clerk, and a very respectable man. Mirrable, our housekeeper
whom you have seen, is related to them. Gum went to Liverpool at the
time, I know, and saw the remnant of the passengers those pirates had
spared; he was sure to hear a full description of Gordon. If ever I visit
Hartledon again I'll ask him."

"If ever you visit Hartledon again!" echoed Mr. Carr. "Unless you leave
the country--as I advise you to do--you cannot help visiting Hartledon."

"Well, I would almost as soon be hanged!" cried Val. "And now, what do
you want me for, and why have you kept me here?"

Mr. Carr drew his chair nearer to Lord Hartledon. They alone knew their
own troubles, and sat talking long after the afternoon was over. Mr.
Taylor came to the room; it was past his usual hour of departure.

"I suppose I can go, sir?"

"Not just yet," replied Mr. Carr.

Hartledon took out his watch, and wondered whether it had been galloping,
when he saw how late it was. "You'll come home and dine with me, Carr?"

"I'll follow you, if you like," was the reply. "I have a matter or two to
attend to first."

A few minutes more, and Lord Hartledon and his care went out. Mr. Carr
called in his clerk.

"I want to know how you came to learn that the man I asked you about,
Gordon, was employed by Kedge and Reck?"

"I heard it through a man named Druitt," was the ready answer. "Happening
to ask him--as I did several people--whether he knew any George Gordon,
he at once said that a man of that name was at Kedge and Reck's, where
Druitt