Foreland Farms, Thessalie should be invited also; otherwise, she'd be
alone again, except for the servants, and possibly Westmore. And he
said so.

"This won't do," he insisted. "We four ought to remain in touch with
one another for the present. If Dulcie and I go to Foreland Farms, you
must come, too, Thessa; and you, Jim, ought to be there, too."

Nobody demurred; Barres, elated at the prospect, gave Thessalie a
brief sketch of his family and their home.

"There's room for a regiment in the house," he added, "and you will
feel welcome and entirely at home. I'll write my people to-night, if
it's settled. Is it, Thessa?"

"I'd adore it, Garry. I haven't been in the country since I left
France."

"And you, Jim?"

"You bet. I always have a wonderful time at Foreland."

"Now, this is splendid!" exclaimed Barres, delighted. "If you
disappear, Thessa, those German rats may become discouraged and give
up hounding you. Anyway, you'll have a quiet six weeks and a complete
rest; and by that time Jim and I ought to devise some method of
handling these vermin."

"Nobody," said Thessalie, smiling, "has asked Dulcie's opinion as to
how this matter ought to be handled."

Barres turned to meet Dulcie's shy gaze.

"Tell us what to do, Sweetness!" he said gaily. "It was stupid of me
not to ask for your views."

For a few moments the girl remained silent, then, the lovely tint
deepening in her cheeks, she suggested diffidently that the people who
were annoying Thessalie had been hired to do it by others more easy to
handle, if discovered.

There was a moment's silence, then Barres struck his palm with doubled
fist:

"_That_," he said with emphasis, "is the right way to approach this
business! Hired thugs can be handled in only two ways--beat 'em up or
call in the police. And we can do neither.

"But the men higher up--the men who inspire and hire these rats--they
can be dealt with in other ways. You're right, Dulcie! You've started
us on the only proper path!"

Considerably excited, now, as vague ideas crowded in upon him, he sat
smiting his knees, his brows knit in concentrated thought, aware that
they were on the right track, but that the track was but a blind trail
so far.

Dulcie ventured to interrupt his frowning cogitation:

"People of position and influence who hire men to do unworthy things
are cowards at heart. To discover them is to end the whole matter, I
think."

"You're absolutely right, Sweetness!