. My doctor recommends Tankerton on the Kentish coast. It
seems the air there is extraordinary. When the tide is down it comes off
the mud flats. A kind parishioner of mine--" he turned slightly toward
his wife: "Mrs. Amherst, Sophy--has a cottage there and has often offered
me the use of it. I hope to accept her offer now."

Lady Sophia expressed no surprise at the project, and did not inquire
whether her husband wished her to accompany him.

But when she shook hands with Malling, her dark eyes seemed to say to
him, "I was wrong."

And he thought she looked humbled.

VIII

_"Could you come down stay with me Saturday till Monday all alone air
delicious feel rather solitary glad of your company Marcus Harding Minors
Tankerton Kent."_

Such was the telegram which Evelyn Malling was considering on the
following Friday afternoon. The sender had paid an answer. The
telegraph-boy was waiting in the hall. Malling only kept him five
minutes. He went away with this reply:

_"Accept with pleasure will take four twenty train at Victoria Saturday
Malling."_

Malling could not have said with truth that he had expected a summons
from Mr. Harding, yet he found that he was not surprised to get it. The
man was in a bad way. He needed sympathy, he needed help. That was
certain. But whether he could help him was more than doubtful, Malling
thought. Perhaps, really, a doctor and the wonderful air from the mud
flats of Tankerton! But here Malling found that a strong incredulity
checked him. He did not believe that the rector would be restored by a
doctor's advice and a visit to the sea.

That afternoon he went to Westminster, and asked for Professor Stepton.

"He is away, sir," said the fair Scotch parlormaid.

"For long?"

"We don't know, sir. He has gone into Kent, on research business, I
believe."

Agnes had been for a long time in the professor's service, and was
greatly trusted. The professor had come upon her originally when making
investigations into "second sight," a faculty which she claimed to
possess. By the way she was also an efficient parlor-maid.

"Kent!" said Malling. "Do you know where he is staying?"

"The address he left is the Tankerton Hotel, Tankerton, near
Whitstable-on-Sea, sir."

"Thank you, Agnes," said Malling.

"It is a haunted house somewhere Birchington way the professor is after,
I believe, sir."

"Luck favors me!" said Malling to himself, unscientifically, as he walked
away fr