n money
difficulties. Her creditors camped on her trail.

Two lines were open to Evan: to bribe her maid and to watch her
letters. The maid, Josefa, was a light-headed creature perfectly
willing to plot or counterplot with anybody. Unfortunately she was of
very little use to Evan, because her mistress did not trust her in the
least. As for the letters, it was scarcely likely that if Maud Deaves
were carrying on a dangerous correspondence she would have the letters
come openly to the house. Nevertheless Evan determined to get to the
house early enough in the mornings to look over the first mail before
it was distributed.

On the morning following his trip on the _Ernestina_ he found a letter
addressed to her that gave him food for reflection. The address was
typewritten. The envelope was of medium size "Irish linen" of the kind
that never saw either Ireland or flax; in other words, just such an
envelope as those which had brought the blackmailing letters. In
itself this was nothing for many thousands of such envelopes are sold.
But it was postmarked "Hamilton Grange" and it was addressed "New York
City." The three little facts taken together were significant. Evan
slipped it in his pocket.

But though it had the look of a mere business letter or a bill, he
still had qualms about opening it. Useless to tell himself that it was
his duty to do so. To tell the truth Evan was not cut out by nature to
be a detective. He finally decided to put his problem to George Deaves.

"Mr. Deaves," he said, "am I employed to accompany your father on his
walks or to discover the blackmailers?"

"Primarily to run down the blackmailers," was the prompt reply.
"Merely to go with my father is not worth all the money I'm paying you."

"Very good. Then I'm supposed to follow the trail wherever it may
lead?"

"Certainly."

"Even in this house?"

"Of course. I told you particularly to watch the servants. Whom do
you suspect?"

"I have no evidence yet. I merely wanted to know where I stood. Would
I be justified in opening letters that looked suspicious to me?"

"Why, yes. The guilty person wouldn't tell you of his own accord."

"Thanks; that's what I wanted to know."

"Have you found out anything?" Deaves asked eagerly.

"Not yet."

"Mind, you are to find out everything you can, but you are not to take
any action without consulting me."

"I understand."

While the servants were at breakfast Evan went to the