ething which
yielded to the pressure. Involuntarily he drew it back and placed
himself instinctively in an attitude of defence. He hated vermin
of every kind, and this he instantly resolved was a rodent of some
description.

His first hurried glance showed him that he was mistaken. It was but
an innocent roll of paper, and laughing at his fears, he picked it up,
and placing it upon the table, regained his seat.

He turned it over, but there was no superscription on its exterior to
offer any clue as to its owner, and taking it with him to the window,
he pushed the lattice open and removed the shutter. The dial pointed
to six, and the sun had risen. He peered closely into the roll he
held in his hand, and pressing the packet slightly open, he slowly
deciphered the writing. It was that of a lawyer. The first word he
encountered was his own name, and brushing all scruples hastily aside,
the baron burst the package open, and with little compunction sat down
to peruse its contents.

It took the knight, who was no fluent scholar, some considerable time
to read it through, and when, after the exercise of much patience,
he had reached the end, the legal terms, which were so profusely
employed, so baffled his simple understanding that he had decidedly
failed to grasp its true intent. Of one thing, however, and only one,
was he perfectly sure, and that was that he had come across the name
of Mary Burden and Nathan Grene several times in close connection
with his own; but what heightened his surprise and added to his
discomfiture was that the name of Sir Ronald Bury also appeared.

In this predicament he bethought himself of seeking aid to unravel the
mystery, and he hastened up to arouse his companion.

Sir Thomas was dressed, and he met the baron at the top of the
stairs--much to their mutual surprise.

"Good morrow, Thomas," exclaimed the baron, "I had come to awaken
thee; see here!" and holding up the document he had discovered, he
dragged the heir to the Derby estates downstairs without uttering
another word or allowing any time for explanations.

"Read that," he said, as soon as they were seated.

Sir Thomas took the roll from the other's hand, and after a
superficial scrutiny he was soon deeply engrossed in carrying out
the command, while Sir George leaned his elbows upon the table and
carefully studied the changing emotions which followed each other in
rapid succession upon the young man's face.

Sir Thomas Stan