ed an
innocent man to suffer for his baseness. Challoner had spent the last
few days pondering the evidence she had offered him and had seen one or
two weak points in it. By making the most of these, it might, perhaps,
be rebutted, but his honesty rendered such a course out of the question
if she were right in her conclusions, and he was forced to admit that
this was possible. Bertram had shown timidity in his younger
days--Challoner remembered that they had had some trouble in teaching
him to ride--and there was no doubt that his was a highly-strung and
nervous temperament. He had not the calm which marked the Challoners
in time of strain. Then Dick Blake was recklessly generous and loved
his cousin; it would be consistent with his character if he were
willing to suffer in Bertram's stead. Moreover there were reasons
which might have had some effect in inducing Bertram to consent,
because Challoner knew the affection his son bore him and that he would
shrink from involving him in his disgrace. What Bertram would
certainly not have done to secure his own escape he might have done for
the sake of his father and the girl he was to marry.

Admitting all this, Challoner could not take his son's guilt for
granted. There was room for doubt, and soon after leaving Mrs.
Chudleigh he had cabled a friend in Montreal asking him to spare no
effort to trace Blake. If the latter could be found, he must be
summoned home and forced to declare the truth. By and by Challoner
heard a footstep and looking up saw Foster approaching. He stopped and
regarded the Colonel with surprise, for it was seldom Challoner was to
be seen sitting moodily idle.

"I'm taking a short cut through your grounds to the fir spinney," he
said. "As I was leaving home Mrs. Chudleigh asked me to give you this
note, and when I looked in at the house Miss Challoner said she didn't
know where you were and a telegram had just come in. Thinking I might
find you, I brought it along." Handing the other two envelopes he
added: "Sorry to see you're not looking as brisk as usual."

"There's not much the matter," Challoner replied, forcing a smile.
"Still, I do feel a trifle slack, and I've had something to worry me."

Foster gave him a sympathetic nod. "Worry's bad; make a rule to avoid
it when I can. But will you walk as far as the wood?"

He went on when Challoner said he would sooner remain, and the latter
eagerly opened the telegram. It was in answer