hat it was a wonder they
could have floated.

"His clothes, Sir Murray," said the man, lifting up the coat, when, from
the breast, a packet of letters fell out, the directions blurred with
the action of the water; but on two of them plainly enough could still
be read:

_Captain Norton_,
_Merland Hall_.

Book 1, Chapter XXX.

GURDON'S LOT.

"Let the lake be dragged until the body is found," said Sir Murray
Gernon, "and set me ashore."

The men obeyed, and watched their master with wondering eyes as he
strode off towards the house, his brow knit, and head bent, for he
wanted to be alone and to think.

Here was, he told himself, an awful confirmation of his suspicions; and
now, rid of one enemy to his peace, he wanted to consider what should be
his next step.

All that day he kept himself shut in his own room, merely giving a few
instructions to his servants respecting the course to be taken with the
prisoners, who were soon handed over into the custody of the police.

But, as might have been expected, Sir Murray Gernon could not fit
together the pieces of the puzzle: he could not in his heart conclude
that Norton had been associated with the burglarious party, and he was
still brooding over the matter, when a note was placed in his hands--one
which made him start as if stung by some venomous beast, and sit
staring, with dilated eyes, till rage and disappointment got the better
of surprise.

The note was very short, too, and merely to the effect that Captain
Norton, while passing the park palings on the previous night, had heard
an appeal for help, and had taken the liberty of trespassing that he
might render some aid; but in the darkness and haste to get home and
change his wet things, he had lost a portion of his clothes, containing
letters of importance. Would Sir Murray Gernon kindly give orders that,
if found, they might be restored?

Sir Murray Gernon sat for some minutes staring blankly at the paper as
he mastered its contents. Here, then, was proof in the man's own
handwriting that he had trespassed upon the Castle grounds on the
previous night--but for what?

Reason gave the answer at once, but suspicion refused the explanation.
There must have been some underhanded motive. Lady Gernon was dressed:
she had not been to bed. Could it be that an evasion had been planned
and interrupted by the fortuitous visit of the burglars? It must be so;
and, feeling that he was now upon the right sc