s interesting party, nor do I think papa has either,--not that our
meeting could have any consequence beyond mere unpleasantness. If they
should come up with us, I am as ready to denounce the deceitful Mr.
Trover as any of them."

"This is very poor jesting, I must say," muttered he, angrily.

"You'll find it, perhaps, a very serious earnest if we're caught."

"Come, come, Loo, forgive him; he certainly meant all for the best. I 'm
sure you did, Trover," said old Holmes, with the blandest of voices.

"Why, what on earth do you mean?" cried he. "You are just as deep in the
plot as I am. But for you, how should I have known about Hawke's having
any property in America, or that he had any heir to it?"

"I am not naturally suspicious, Trover," said she, with mock gravity,
"but I declare I begin to believe you are a bad man,--a very bad man!"

"I hope and trust not, Loo," said old Holmes, fervently; "I really hope
not."

"It is no common baseness that seeks for its victim the widow and the
fatherless. Please to put that rug under my feet, Trover. There are
barristers would give their eye-tooth for such an opening for invective.
I have one fat friend in my eye would take the brief for mere pleasure
of blackguarding you. You know whom I mean, papa."

"You may push a joke too far, Mrs. Morris,--or Mrs. Hawke, rather," said
Trover, rudely, "for I don't know by which name you will be pleased to
be known in future."

"I am thinking very seriously of taking a new one, Trover, and the
gentleman who is to share it with me will probably answer all your
inquiries on that and every other subject. I trust, too, that he will
meet us to-morrow."

"Well, if I were Trover, I'd not pester him with questions," said
Holmes, laughingly.

"Don't you think they might take to their oars again, now?" asked
Trover, in a very beseeching tone.

"Poor Mr. Trover!" said she, with a little laugh. "It is really very
hard on him! I have a notion that this night's pleasuring on the Lake
of Constance will be one of the least grateful of his recollections."
Then turning to the boatmen, she bade them "give way" with a will, and
pull their best for Rorschach.

From this time out nothing was said aloud, but Holmes and his daughter
spoke eagerly together in whispers, while Trover sat apart, his head
turned towards where the shadow of large mountains indicated the shore
of the lake.

"A'n't you happy now, Mr. Trover?" said she, at length, as the bo