emed to
be a long and--to me--a painful minute. Then the man whom I took to be
Baxter moved a little nearer to us; his companion, hands in pockets,
but watchful enough, lounged after him.

"Well, sir?" said Baxter, lifting his cap as he glanced at Miss Raven.
"Don't think me too abrupt, nor intentionally rude, if I ask you what
you and this young lady are doing here?"

His voice was that of a man of education and even of refinement, and
his tone polite enough; there was something of apology in it. But it
was also sharp, business-like, compelling; I saw at once that this was
a man whose character was essentially matter-of-fact, and who would
not allow himself to stick at trifles, and I judged it best to be
plain in my answer.

"If you really want to know," I replied, "we are here by sheer
accident. Exploring the wood for the mere fun of the thing, we chanced
upon these ruins and have been examining them, that's all?"

"You didn't come here with any set purpose?" he asked, looking from
one to the other. "You weren't seeking this place?"

"Certainly not!" said I. "We hadn't the faintest notion that such a
place was to be found."

"But here it is, anyway," he said. "And--there you are! In the
possession of the knowledge of it. And so--you'll excuse me--I must
ask a question. Who are you? Tourists? Or--do you live hereabouts?"

The other man made a remark under his breath, in some foreign
language, eyeing me the while. And Baxter spoke again watching me.

"I think you, at any rate, are a resident?" he said. "My friend has
seen you before in these parts."

"I have seen him," I said unthinkingly. "I saw him amongst the people
at Salter Quick's inquest."

The faintest shadow of an understanding glance passed between the two
men, and Baxter's face grew stern.

"Just so!" he remarked. "That makes it all the more necessary to
repeat my question. Who are you--both?"

"My name is Middlebrook, if you must know," I answered. "And I am not
a resident of these parts--I am visiting here. As for this lady, she
is Miss Raven, the niece of Mr. Francis Raven, of Ravensdene Court.
And really--"

He waved his hand as if to deprecate any remonstrance or threat on my
part, and bowed as politely to my companion as if I had just given him
a formal introduction to her.

"No harm shall come to you, Miss Raven," he said, with evidently
honest assurance. "None whatever!"

"Nor to Mr. Middlebrook, either, I should hope!" exclaimed M