expects.'

Rupert read the letter through twice before its meaning dawned on him.
Miss Aleyn, an elderly and very eccentric maiden lady, was their near
neighbour, and a friend of his mother's. Her hobby was curio-collecting,
and she lived in perpetual dread of having her treasures stolen. In
fact, judging by the energy and ingenuity she displayed in hunting for
them, one might well imagine the old lady was desirous of making a
collection of burglars, although so far no success had attended her
efforts. She was an ardent admirer of Sherlock Holmes; to her, as to the
famous detective, every unfamiliar sign or unusual incident meant a clue
to some crime or burglary. Remembering this trait of Miss Aleyn's, Britt
suddenly realised how full of meaning must have appeared the hasty
scrawl he had left on Miss Aleyn s gate-post for the hounds' guidance
that afternoon. He startled the maid-servant by a peal of laughter that
echoed through the small house.

'I'll be back directly,' he exclaimed abruptly, as soon as he could
speak, seizing his cap, and rushing from the house. The prospect of
explaining matters for Miss Aleyn's benefit was no pleasant one. The old
lady had a small opinion of boys, and never hesitated to speak her mind,
as Britt had already been made aware, but he was anxious to have his
mother home once more and eager to tell her of the afternoon's pleasure.
Arriving at the picturesque detached cottage which was his destination,
Britt noticed that the place appeared totally deserted. His vigorous
hammering at both front and kitchen doors was without effect, and Britt
began to wonder whether Mrs. Leslie had persuaded terror-stricken Miss
Aleyn to accompany her home. As a final resource he lifted the flap of
the letterbox and stooped down to it, meaning to shout through; but he
met with an unwelcome surprise. He was greeted by a jet of water from a
well-directed squirt aimed through the opening. He gave himself a
disgusted shake, and ruefully tried to stop the trickling down his neck
with a handkerchief; then cautiously advancing once more, and placing
his lips to the keyhole, he shouted: 'It's me, Mother!--let me in!'

The sentence, brief and ungrammatical, served its purpose. Mrs. Leslie's
voice could be heard inside: 'It's only Rupert, Miss Aleyn. May he come
in for a moment?'

Indistinct murmurs answered the question, and Britt added a further
appeal: 'I've got something important to tell Miss Aleyn.'

This wa