doesn't," he said with a knowing grin.

"Then she has disappeared!" I exclaimed.

"That's just it. And they were always such a devoted pair. Little
Oswald was the only thing she lived for."

"Lived!" I echoed. "Then do you think she's dead?" I asked quickly.

"Dead! Why should we think so? If she were, we should surely have seen
it in the papers?"

"But your master has very funny fits sometimes," I said. "I've heard
about his eccentric ways."

"Of course he has. He's overburdened with money--that's what it is.
Mr. Henderson looks after all his affairs. Mr. De Gex has no regard
for money. Mr. Henderson attends to everything. Phew! I wish I were a
millionaire! I find it hard enough nowadays to pay the butcher and
baker and make both ends meet."

"And so do I," I said, laughing. "But, tell me, where is the young
lady who used to live here--Mr. De Gex's niece?"

"His niece! I don't think he has a niece."

"Miss Gabrielle Engledue."

"Who's she? I've never heard of her," was the man's reply.

I described her, but he shook his head.

"To my knowledge Mr. De Gex hasn't got a niece," he said.

"Were you here five weeks ago?" I inquired.

"Five weeks ago? No. I and my wife went away down to Swanage to see
her sister. The master gave us a fortnight's holiday. Why?"

"Oh--nothing," I replied. "I merely inquired as I want to clear up a
mystery--that's all."

"What mystery?"

"The mystery of Miss Engledue--your master's niece," I answered.

"But I've never heard of any niece," he said.

"A young lady of about twenty-one with dark hair and eyes, and a
beautiful complexion," I said.

But the old servant's mind was a blank.

"Of course, sir, many people come to visit Mr. De Gex. Horton would
know them, but I don't. When the master is in town the servants are
here, and I'm down in Cornwall at the castle."

"Then you are only here as caretaker when the family is away?"

"That's it, sir," he said. "But what is the mystery about this young
lady? You said you knew Mr. De Gex, and yet you wanted to look over
the house."

"Yes," I responded with a laugh. "I have my own object--to clear up
the mystery of Mr. De Gex's niece."

"Well, as far as I know, he has no niece! But you could easily find
out, I suppose!"

The man was evidently no fool.

"Of course I don't know who comes here, or who stays here when the
family is in town," he went on. "I simply come up and look after the
place with my wife."

"Then you