edda with a glance from
which he obviously tried to remove all earthly desires, "that you,
sir, and your nephew wish to go and see the man. Mrs. Pogram will be
delighted to show Miss Freeland our garden. Your great-grandfather, sir,
on the mother's side, lived in this house. Delighted to meet you;
often heard of your books; Mrs. Pogram has read one--let me see--'The
Bannister,' was it?"

"'The Balustrade,'" Felix answered gently.

Mr. Pogram rang the bell. "Quite so," he said. "Assizes are just over
so that he can't come up for trial till August or September; pity--great
pity! Bail in cases of arson--for a laborer, very doubtful! Ask your
mistress to come, please."

There entered a faded rose of a woman on whom Mr. Pogram in his time
had evidently made a great impression. A vista of two or three little
Pograms behind her was hastily removed by the maid. And they all went
into the garden.

"Through here," said Mr. Pogram, coming to a side door in the garden
wall, "we can make a short cut to the police station. As we go along I
shall ask you one or two blunt questions." And he thrust out his under
lip:

"For instance, what's your interest in this matter?"

Before Felix could answer, Derek had broken in:

"My uncle has come out of kindness. It's my affair, sir. The man has
been tyrannously treated."

Mr. Pogram cocked his eye. "Yes, yes; no doubt, no doubt! He's not
confessed, I understand?"

"No; but--"

Mr. Pogram laid a finger on his lips.

"Never say die; that's what we're here for. So," he went on, "you're
a rebel; Socialist, perhaps. Dear me! Well, we're all of us
something, nowadays--I'm a humanitarian myself. Often say to Mrs.
Pogram--humanity's the thing in this age--and so it is! Well, now, what
line shall we take?" And he rubbed his hands. "Shall we have a try at
once to upset what evidence they've got? We should want a strong
alibi. Our friends here will commit if they can--nobody likes arson. I
understand he was sleeping in your cottage. His room, now? Was it on the
ground floor?"

"Yes; but--"

Mr. Pogram frowned, as who should say: Ah! Be careful! "He had better
reserve his defence and give us time to turn round," he said rather
shortly.

They had arrived at the police station and after a little parley were
ushered into the presence of Tryst.

The big laborer was sitting on the stool in his cell, leaning back
against the wall, his hands loose and open at his sides. His gaze passed
at o