eclaring
that he was always an early man when the morning presented any special
attraction to him, he accepted the appointment for seven o'clock, and
rose soon afterward to take his leave.

"One word at parting," said Captain Wragge. "This conversation is
entirely between ourselves. Mrs. Lecount must know nothing of the
impression she has produced on my niece. I have only mentioned it to you
to account for my apparently churlish conduct and to satisfy your
own mind. In confidence, Mr. Vanstone--strictly in confidence.
Good-morning!"

With these parting words, the captain bowed his visitor out. Unless some
unexpected disaster occurred, he now saw his way safely to the end
of the enterprise. He had gained two important steps in advance that
morning. He had sown the seeds of variance between the housekeeper
and her master, and he had given Noel Vanstone a common interest with
Magdalen and himself, in keeping a secret from Mrs. Lecount. "We
have caught our man," thought Captain Wragge, cheerfully rubbing his
hands--"we have caught our man at last!"

On leaving North Shingles Noel Vanstone walked straight home, fully
restored to his place in his own estimation, and sternly determined to
carry matters with a high hand if he found himself in collision with
Mrs. Lecount.

The housekeeper received her master at the door with her mildest manner
and her gentlest smile. She addressed him with downcast eyes; she
opposed to his contemplated assertion of independence a barrier of
impenetrable respect.

"May I venture to ask, sir," she began, "if your visit to North Shingles
has led you to form the same conclusion as mine on the subject of Miss
Bygrave's illness?"

"Certainly not, Lecount. I consider your conclusion to have been both
hasty and prejudiced."

"I am sorry to hear it, sir. I felt hurt by Mr. Bygrave's rude reception
of me, but I was not aware that my judgment was prejudiced by it.
Perhaps he received _you_, sir, with a warmer welcome?"

"He received me like a gentleman--that is all I think it necessary to
say, Lecount--he received me like a gentleman."

This answer satisfied Mrs. Lecount on the one doubtful point that had
perplexed her. Whatever Mr. Bygrave's sudden coolness toward herself
might mean, his polite reception of her master implied that the risk
of detection had not daunted him, and that the plot was still in
full progress. The housekeeper's eyes brightened; she had expressly
calculated on this res