greatest importance, when I next see Mr. Noel Vanstone, that he should
find me thoroughly prepared beforehand in this matter of the will. Your
much obliged servant,

"VIRGINIE LECOUNT."

XII.

_From Mr. Pendril to Miss Garth._

"Serle Street, October 29th.

"DEAR MISS GARTH--I have only a moment to assure you of the sorrow with
which I have read your letter. The circumstances under which you urge
your request, and the reasons you give for making it, are sufficient to
silence any objection I might otherwise feel to the course you propose.
A trustworthy person, whom I have myself instructed, will start for
Allonby to-day, and as soon as I receive any news from him, you shall
hear of it by special messenger. Tell Miss Vanstone this, and pray add
the sincere expression of my sympathy and regard.

"Faithfully yours,

"WILLIAM PENDRIL."

XIII.

_From Mr. de Bleriot to Mrs. Lecount._

"Dark's Buildings. November 1st.

"DEAR MADAM--I have the pleasure of informing you that the discovery has
been made with far less trouble than I had anticipated.

"Mr. and Mrs. Noel Vanstone have been traced across the Solway Firth
to Dumfries, and thence to a cottage a few miles from the town, on the
banks of the Nith. The exact address is Baliol Cottage, near Dumfries.

"This information, though easily hunted up, has nevertheless been
obtained under rather singular circumstances.

"Before leaving Allonby, the persons in my employ discovered, to their
surprise, that a stranger was in the place pursuing the same inquiry as
themselves. In the absence of any instructions preparing them for such
an occurrence as this, they took their own view of the circumstance.
Considering the man as an intruder on their business, whose success
might deprive them of the credit and reward of making the discovery,
they took advantage of their superiority in numbers, and of their
being first in the field, and carefully misled the stranger before they
ventured any further with their own investigations. I am in possession
of the details of their proceedings, with which I need not trouble you.
The end is, that this person, whoever he may be, was cleverly turned
back southward on a false scent before the men in my employment crossed
the Firth.

"I mention the circumstance, as you may be better able than I am to find
a clew to it, and as it may possibly be of a nature to induce you to
hasten your journey.

"Your faithful servant,

"ALFRED DE