all parish church twenty miles from Stowley, so
Aurora will go there. But I want her to stop at Stowley first and learn
all she can about Anne Tyler."

"Beechill's the name of the parish in which she was married to Krill
before she came to Christchurch," said Paul, musingly, "so I expect they
lived there. Miss Qian might search also for the certificate of Maud
Krill's birth."

"I told her to, and, failing that, she's to search in Christchurch. We
must get the certificate of birth somehow."

"Hurd," said Paul, rather diffidently, "I hope you won't be annoyed, but
I have already asked my friend Ford to give notice to Pash to produce
the certificate."

"Well," replied the detective, "you might have told me; but no great
harm is done. What does Pash say?"

"I don't know. Ford has not let me know yet. Here we are."

This remark was caused by the stopping of the train at Liverpool Street
Station. A number of people were returning from their employment in the
city to the country, and the platforms were crowded. Hurd grasped Master
Clump by the arm and marched him along. But in the confusion of finding
his ticket at the barrier, he happened to let go, almost without
thinking. In a moment Tray had darted through the barrier and was lost
in the crowd. Hurd sprang after him, and left Paul to explain. He
hurriedly did so, and then went out to see if the detective had caught
the boy.

Hurd was nowhere to be seen, neither was Tray. The crowd was increasing
thick, and Beecot was at a loss what to do. After waiting for an hour
without finding the pair, he thought he would go to Pash's office. It
might be that Hurd, having caught Tray, would take him there at once,
leaving Beecot to follow. So Paul got on to the metropolitan railway and
alighted at the Temple Station. Thence he walked up to the office in
Chancery Lane.

"Where's Tray?" asked Paul, of the one clerk in the outer room, who was
writing for dear life.

"I don't know, sir," said the clerk; "he went out this morning and
hasn't been back all day. Mr. Pash is very angry with him."

Apparently Hurd had not caught the boy yet, or if he had, did not intend
to bring him to the office. "Can I see Mr. Pash?" asked Paul, thinking
he might as well make some use of his time.

The clerk inquired if the solicitor would see Beecot, and presently
ushered him into the inner room, where Pash sat looking more like a
monkey than ever. He did not appear at all pleased to see the you