beds in London are there in my master's park."

"Are they so?" said Paddy. "I would be liking to see them."

"And ye shall," cried the gardener with an outburst of generous
feeling. "So ye shall. On a Sunday we may stroll quietly and decently
in the gardens, and ye shall see."

Seeing that Paddy and Jem were getting on well with the man, I
returned to Doctor Chord.

"'Tis all right," said I. "They have him in hand. We have only to sit
still, and the whole thing is managed."

Later I saw the three men in the road, Paddy and Jem embracing the
almost tearful Strammers. These farewells were touching. Afterward my
rogues appeared before me, each with a wide grin.

"We have him," said Paddy, "and 'tis us that has an invitation to come
inside the wall next Sunday. 'I have some fine flowers in the
gardens,' said he. 'Have you so?' said I. 'Well, then, 'tis myself
will be breaking your head if you don't leave us inside to see them.'
'Master Paddy,' said he, 'you are a gentleman, or if not you are very
like one, and you and your handsome friend, Master Jem, as well as
another friend or two, is welcome to see the gardens whenever I can
make certain the master and mistress is out.' And with that I told him
he could go home."

"You are doing well," I said, letting the scoundrel see in my face
that I believed his pleasant tale, and he was so pleased that he was
for going on and making a regular book out of it. But I checked him.
"No," said I. "I am fearing that I would become too much interested
and excited. I am satisfied with what you've been telling me. 'Twas
more to my mind to have beaten that glass-eyed man, but we have taken
the right course. And now we will be returning to where we lodge."

During the walk back to the "Pig and Turnip" Doctor Chord took it
upon himself to discourse in his usual style upon the recent events.
"Of course, sir, I would care to hear of the tragic scenes which must
have transpired soon after I--I--"

"Abandoned the vicinity?" said I.

"Precisely," he responded. "Although I was not in the exact
neighbourhood during what must have been a most tempestuous part of
your adventure, I can assure you I had lost none of my former interest
in the affair."

"I am believing you," said I; "but let us talk now more of the future.
I am much absorbed in the future. It appears to me that it will move
at a rapid pace."

I did not tell him about my meeting with Lady Mary, because I knew, if
occasion ar