r anything, you know. Well, my dear Mr. Lake,
finding your part a bit too much for you?" he added, with a laugh,
turning to Mr. Narkom, who was sitting on the extreme edge of his chair,
mournfully fingering his collar, which was higher and tighter than the
somewhat careless affair which he usually adopted. "Never mind. As the
poet sings, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women, etc.'
You're simply one of 'em, now. Try to remember that. And remember, also,
that the eyes of the gallery are not always upon you. Sir Nigel, I ask
you, isn't our friend's make-up the perfection of the--er--elderly
man-about-town?"

Sir Nigel laughingly had to admit that it was, whereupon Mr. Narkom
blushed exceedingly, and--the ice was broken as Cleek had intended it
should be.

They adjourned to the smoking-room, where a huge log-fire burnt in the
grate, and easy chairs invited. They discussed the topics of the day with
evident relish during such time as Borkins was in the room, and smoked
their cigars with the air of men to whom the hours were as naught, and
life simply a chessboard to move their little pieces upon as they willed.
But how soon they were to cry checkmate upon this case which they were
all investigating, even Cleek did not know. Then of a sudden he looked up
from his task of studying the fire with knitted brows.

"By the way," he said off-handedly, "I hope you don't mind. My man will
be coming down by the next train with our traps. I never travel without
him, he's such a useful beggar. You can manage to put him up somewhere,
I suppose? I was a fool not to have mentioned it before, but the lad
entirely slipped my memory. He helps me, too, in other things, and there
is always a good deal to be learned from the servants' hall, you know,
Sir Nigel.... You can manage with Dollops, can't you? Otherwise he can
put up at the village inn."

Merriton shook his head decisively.

"Of course not, Mr. Headland. Wouldn't hear of such a thing. Anybody who
is going to be useful to you in this case is, as you know, absolutely
welcome to Merriton Towers. He won't get much out of Borkins though,
I don't mind telling you."

"Hmm. Well that remains to be seen, doesn't it, Mr. Narkom?" returned
Cleek, with a smile. "Dollops has a way. And he knows it. I'll warrant
there won't be much that Borkins can keep from the sharp little devil!
Well, it seems to be getting dusk rapidly, Sir Nigel, what about those
flames now, eh? I'd like to