At last, in a low tone, Pats muttered:

"A whole fleet might be within a mile on a day like this and nobody know
it. Are you sure it wasn't Solomon? He is a heavy breather sometimes."

She sighed. "Very likely. With this blanket about one's ears anything
was possible."

They started on again. A few moments later the final shower had ceased.
Swiftly the clouds dispersed, but the mist, although illumined by the
sun, still lingered over land and sea. Solomon, followed by his friends,
climbed the gentle ascent at the end of the beach, and as they hastened
on among the pines all felt a mild excitement on approaching the
cottage.

Gathered about the doorway, as if to welcome the returning travellers,
stood a few white hens and the pompous rooster. To this impressive bird
Pats took off his hat with a deferential bow.

"Glad to see you again, Senator."

"Why 'Senator'? Because nobody listens when he talks?" Elinor had been
to Washington.

"Yes; and he knows so little and feels so good over it."

From its hiding-place behind the vines, Pats took the key and opened the
door. With a military salute he stood aside, and the lady entered. He
followed; and as he unslung his knapsack Elinor looked about her with a
pleased expression.

"How rich it all is!" she exclaimed. "I had forgotten what a splendid
collection we had."

Pats drew a long breath, as if to inhale the magnificence.

"Are you familiar with bric-a-brac shops?" he asked.

"Yes."

"And with the rooms of old palaces and chateaux that are opened only
when visitors arrive?"

"Yes."

"Well, this is that smell."

She also inhaled, and closed her eyes. "So it is."

"It's the tapestries and old wood, and the bloom on the paintings, I
suppose. But it's good. I like it."

"It's a little musty, perhaps, but--"

She stopped so suddenly that Pats turned toward her. With a look of
surprise she was pointing to the dining-table, close beside them. In the
centre of this table, and very white against the dark oak, lay an
envelope. Upon it had been placed a silver spoon to prevent disturbance
from any possible gust of air through the open door.

"Some one has been here!" And she regarded Pats with startled eyes.

Before touching the letter he instinctively cast a look about the room
for other evidence. While he was doing it, Elinor pointed toward the
farther end of the cottage, to the kitchen table, and whispered:

"Look!"

Upon that table rested a pile of c