ed on their heels. Dr
Richardson slammed the street-door angrily.

Dr Porhoet slipped his arm in Arthur's.

'You must be reasonable, my friend,' he said. 'From his own point of view
this doctor has all the rights on his side. You have nothing to justify
your demands. It is monstrous to expect that for a vague suspicion you
will be able to get an order for exhumation.'

Arthur did not answer. The trap was waiting for them.

'Why do you want to see Haddo?' insisted the doctor. 'You will do no more
good than you have with Dr Richardson.'

'I have made up my mind to see him,' answered Arthur shortly. 'But there
is no need that either of you should accompany me.'

'If you go, we will come with you,' said Susie.

Without a word Arthur jumped into the dog-cart, and Susie took a seat by
his side. Dr Porhoet, with a shrug of the shoulders, mounted behind.
Arthur whipped up the pony, and at a smart trot they traversed the three
miles across the barren heath that lay between Venning and Skene.

When they reached the park gates, the lodgekeeper, as luck would have it,
was standing just inside, and she held one of them open for her little
boy to come in. He was playing in the road and showed no inclination to
do so. Arthur jumped down.

'I want to see Mr Haddo,' he said.

'Mr Haddo's not in,' she answered roughly.

She tried to close the gate, but Arthur quickly put his foot inside.

'Nonsense! I have to see him on a matter of great importance.'

'Mr Haddo's orders are that no one is to be admitted.'

'I can't help that, I'm proposing to come in, all the same.'

Susie and Dr Porhoet came forward. They promised the small boy a shilling
to hold their horse.

'Now then, get out of here,' cried the woman. 'You're not coming in,
whatever you say.'

She tried to push the gate to, but Arthur's foot prevented her. Paying no
heed to her angry expostulations, he forced his way in. He walked quickly
up the drive. The lodge-keeper accompanied him, with shrill abuse. The
gate was left unguarded, and the others were able to follow without
difficulty.

'You can go to the door, but you won't see Mr Haddo,' the woman cried
angrily. 'You'll get me sacked for letting you come.'

Susie saw the house. It was a fine old building in the Elizabethan style,
but much in need of repair; and it had the desolate look of a place that
has been uninhabited. The garden that surrounded it had been allowed to
run wild, and the avenue up which t