renewed their friendship.

Douglas had given him the impression that some danger was hanging over
his head, and he had always looked upon his sudden departure from
California, and also his renting a house in so quiet a place in
England, as being connected with this peril. He imagined that some
secret society, some implacable organization, was on Douglas's track,
which would never rest until it killed him. Some remarks of his had
given him this idea; though he had never told him what the society was,
nor how he had come to offend it. He could only suppose that the legend
upon the placard had some reference to this secret society.

"How long were you with Douglas in California?" asked Inspector
MacDonald.

"Five years altogether."

"He was a bachelor, you say?"

"A widower."

"Have you ever heard where his first wife came from?"

"No, I remember his saying that she was of German extraction, and I
have seen her portrait. She was a very beautiful woman. She died of
typhoid the year before I met him."

"You don't associate his past with any particular part of America?"

"I have heard him talk of Chicago. He knew that city well and had
worked there. I have heard him talk of the coal and iron districts. He
had travelled a good deal in his time."

"Was he a politician? Had this secret society to do with politics?"

"No, he cared nothing about politics."

"You have no reason to think it was criminal?"

"On the contrary, I never met a straighter man in my life."

"Was there anything curious about his life in California?"

"He liked best to stay and to work at our claim in the mountains. He
would never go where other men were if he could help it. That's why I
first thought that someone was after him. Then when he left so suddenly
for Europe I made sure that it was so. I believe that he had a warning
of some sort. Within a week of his leaving half a dozen men were
inquiring for him."

"What sort of men?"

"Well, they were a mighty hard-looking crowd. They came up to the claim
and wanted to know where he was. I told them that he was gone to Europe
and that I did not know where to find him. They meant him no good--it
was easy to see that."

"Were these men Americans--Californians?"

"Well, I don't know about Californians. They were Americans, all right.
But they were not miners. I don't know what they were, and was very
glad to see their backs."

"That was six years ago?"

"Nearer seven."

"And then you