at usually encircled his mouth
playing round it now:

"A nice evening for a stroll, Mr. Hatteras."

"A very nice evening, as you say, Mr. Baxter."

"May I intrude myself upon your privacy for five minutes?"

"With pleasure. What is your business?"

"Of small concern to you, sir, but of immense importance to me. Mr.
Hatteras, I have it in my mind that you do not like me."

"I hope I have not given you cause to think so. Pray what can have put
such a notion into your head?"

I half hoped that he would make some allusion to the telegram he had
despatched for me that morning, but he was far too cunning for that. He
looked me over and over out of his small ferrety eyes before he replied:

"I cannot tell you why I think so, Mr. Hatteras, but instinct generally
makes us aware when we are not quite all we might be to other people.
Forgive me for speaking in this way to you, but you must surely see how
much it means to me to be on good terms with friends of my employer's
family."

"You are surely not afraid lest I should prejudice the Duke against
you?"

"Not afraid, Mr. Hatteras! I have too much faith in your sense of
justice to believe that you would willingly deprive me of my means of
livelihood--for of course that is what it would mean in plain English."

"Then you need have no fear. I have just said good-bye to them. I am
going away to-morrow, and it is improbable that I shall ever see either
of them again."

"You are leaving for Australia?"

"Very shortly, I think."

"I am much obliged to you for the generous way you have treated me. I
shall never forget your kindness."

"Pray don't mention it. Is that all you have to say to me? Then
good-evening!"

"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras."

He turned back, and I continued my way along the cliff, reflecting on
the curious interview I had just passed through. If the truth must be
known, I was quite at a loss to understand what he meant by it! Why had
he asked that question about Australia? Was it only chance that had led
him to put it, or was it done designedly, and for some reason connected
with that mysterious "train" mentioned in his telegram?

I was to find out later, and only too thoroughly!

CHAPTER VI

I MEET DR. NIKOLA AGAIN

It is strange with what ease, rapidity, and apparent unconsciousness the
average man jumps from crisis to crisis in that strange medley he is
accustomed so flippantly to call His Life. It was so in my case. For two
days