have made the smallest impression on him.

"I've got leave to ask you a question," says he, the moment I appeared.
"When you found your master's yacht gone, did you hear which way she
had sailed? Was it northward toward Scotland? Speak up, young man, speak
up!"

"Yes," I answered. "The boatmen told me that when I made inquiries at
the harbor."

"Well, sir," says Mr. Dark, turning to the lawyer, "if he said he was
going to Sweden, he seems to have started on the road to it, at all
events. I think I have got my instructions now?"

The lawyer nodded, and looked at my mistress, who bowed her head to him.
He then said, turning to me:

"Pack up your bag for traveling at once, and have a conveyance got ready
to go to the nearest post-town. Look sharp, young man--look sharp!"

"And, whatever happens in the future," added my mistress, her kind voice
trembling a little, "believe, William, that I shall never forget the
proof you now show of your devotion to me. It is still some comfort to
know that I have your fidelity to depend on in this dreadful trial--your
fidelity and the extraordinary intelligence and experience of Mr. Dark."

Mr. Dark did not seem to hear the compliment. He was busy writing, with
his paper upon the map on his knee.

A quarter of an hour later, when I had ordered the dog-cart, and had got
down into the hall with my bag packed, I found him there waiting for
me. He was sitting in the same chair which he had occupied when he first
arrived, and he had another jug of the old ale on the table by his side.

"Got any fishing-rods in the house?" says he, when I put my bag down in
the hall.

"Yes," I replied, astonished at the question. "What do you want with
them?"

"Pack a couple in cases for traveling," says Mr. Dark, "with lines, and
hooks, and fly-books all complete. Have a drop of the ale before you
go--and don't stare, William, don't stare. I'll let the light in on you
as soon as we are out of the house. Off with you for the rods! I want to
be on the road in five minutes."

When I came back with the rods and tackle I found Mr. Dark in the
dog-cart.

"Money, luggage, fishing-rods, papers of directions, copy of anonymous
letter, guide-book, map," says he, running over in his mind the things
wanted for the journey--"all right so far. Drive off."

I took the reins and started the horse. As we left the house I saw my
mistress and Josephine looking after us from two of the windows on the
second flo