--Spittal, they call him--I thought he was Scotch."

"He's not that. And I don't like the innkeeper either. I would want
him shifted."

Dr. Loudon laughed. "I dare say Dobson is a rough diamond. There's
worse folk in the world all the same, but I don't think he will want to
stay. He only went there to pass the time till he heard from his
brother in Vancouver. He's a roving spirit, and will be off overseas
again."

"That's all right!" said Dickson, who was beginning to have horrid
suspicions that he might be on a wild-goose chase after all. "Well, the
next thing is for me to see over the House."

"Certainly. I'd like to go with you myself. What day would suit you?
Let me see. This is Friday. What about this day week?"

"I was thinking of to-morrow. Since I'm down in these parts I may as
well get the job done."

Mr. Loudon looked puzzled. "I quite see that. But I don't think it's
possible. You see, I have to consult the owners and get their consent
to a lease. Of course they have the general purpose of letting,
but--well, they're queer folk the Kennedys," and his face wore the
half-embarrassed smile of an honest man preparing to make confidences.
"When poor Mr. Quentin died, the place went to his two sisters in joint
ownership. A very bad arrangement, as you can imagine. It isn't
entailed, and I've always been pressing them to sell, but so far they
won't hear of it. They both married Englishmen, so it will take a day
or two to get in touch with them. One, Mrs. Stukely, lives in
Devonshire. The other--Miss Katie that was--married Sir Frances
Morewood, the general, and I hear that she's expected back in London
next Monday from the Riviera. I'll wire and write first thing
to-morrow morning. But you must give me a day or two."

Dickson felt himself waking up. His doubts about his own sanity were
dissolving, for, as his mind reasoned, the factor was prepared to do
anything he asked--but only after a week had gone. What he was
concerned with was the next few days.

"All the same I would like to have a look at the place to-morrow, even
if nothing comes of it."

Mr. Loudon looked seriously perplexed. "You will think me absurdly
fussy, Mr. McCunn, but I must really beg of you to give up the idea.
The Kennedys, as I have said, are--well, not exactly like other people,
and I have the strictest orders not to let any one visit the house
without their express leave. It sounds a ridiculous rule, but I