Mary."

"Not about some things, perhaps, but there are limits, you know."

A week later, duly provided with passes, Cuthbert and Cumming made their
way in a carriage to the Belgian frontier, and then went on by train to
Brussels, where, on the day after their arrival, Cumming drew up and
signed a statement with reference to the details of his transference of
the shares to Mr. Hartington, and swore to its contents before a Belgian
legal official.

"I shall stay here for a few days," he said to Cuthbert, as the latter
started the next morning for England. "I am quite safe for the present,
and after a long course of horse-flesh I really cannot tear myself away
from decent living, until Paris is re-victualled, and one can live there
in comfort again. I wish you every success in your search. The more I
think of it the more convinced I am that we are not far wrong as to the
manner in which Brander has got hold of your estate."

Cuthbert, on arriving in London, took up his quarters at the Charing
Cross Hotel. On the morning after his arrival he wrote a letter to Dr.
Edwardes, at Abchester.

"MY DEAR DOCTOR,--I have just returned from Paris, where I have
been shut up for the last four months. I do not care about coming
down to Abchester at present. I suppose I have not quite got over
my soreness over matters in general, but for reasons which I need
not enter into, I want to know if Brander's clerks, who were with
him when I was last there, are still with him in his office, and,
if not, where they are employed. I do not know anyone else to write
to on the subject, and I am sure you will not mind taking the
trouble in the matter for me."

The answer came back by return of post.

"MY DEAR CUTHBERT--I was very glad to hear of you again. I have
asked Brander from time to time about you, and he always says that
he has not heard from you for months, and though your letter says
nothing beyond the fact that you are alive, I was glad to get it. I
hope next time you write you will give me full details about
yourself, and that ere long you will make up your mind to come
down. I need not say that we shall be delighted to put you up when
you do come. I should imagine you would not care to go to
Fairclose. Now as to your question. Harford, the elder of the two
clerks, left the office here very shortly after you went away.
Levison, the y