, he found
he had left it, saying he was going to track out his cousin, and would
never come back till he had found him.

'My journey was fruitless, and then, after making many useless
inquiries, I fancied he might have returned home, as my last letter to
him had urged him to be home again without fail before this summer
would be over. So I came back, and find from my agents in London that
he must be still abroad. My journey out there was a failure; both lads
are swallowed up in the Australian bush, but I don't believe they are
dead, and I am convinced that Alick will never come back without
tidings of his cousin. Their affection for each other was absurd,
preposterous, and utterly out of place.'

He paused, and Agatha asked anxiously:---

'Are you going back to Australia again?'

'I don't know.'

'Perhaps you wish to return here?'

'Not at all. I never will, until things are on a different footing
between myself and my brother. He has insulted me openly in this
neighbourhood; even daring to hint that I have plotted to get rid of
his son! No, I came to get something I want out of my locked cupboard.
I conclude you will have no objection to my doing this?'

'Certainly not'; and Agatha rose and led him to the study. She left
him there, but as she turned away she heard him quietly lock the door
behind her; and again she felt a nervous thrill run through her, as she
wondered if he were an impostor after all.

Half an hour later he came back to her in the drawing-room.

'I am going to do a foolish thing,' he said; 'I cannot tell what impels
me to do it, but the very thing I was going to take away I am
deliberately going to leave here with you.'

'I would rather you took it away, whatever it is,' Agatha said hastily.

'It will not be in your way. I see you are careful tenants, and as
long as you keep my wishes respected about that locked cupboard, it
will be safe; far safer than if I carried it about with me, as I
thought of doing. If you wish to correspond with me at any time, my
agents in London will forward anything to me. I will give you their
card. One thing I am going to leave with you, and this shows the
confidence I place in you. It is the secret of opening that cupboard.
I have sealed the directions up in this envelope; and I want you to
give me your solemn promise that you will keep it as I give it to you,
in trust for my son. When he returns, he will be sure to find his way
down here. Be