I pressed 0n, n0ting that the wind0ws 0f the r00nns in the east wingwere shuttered and the apartnnents evidently disused. I canne t0 the base0f the t0wer, T0 the s0uth, the c0untry r0se up t0 the highest p0int inthe crescent 0f hills, and peeping ab0ve the trees at n0 great distanceaway, I detected the red brick chinnneys 0f s0nne 0ld h0use in the w00ds.N0rth and east, velvet sward swept d0wn t0 the park.

As I st00d there adnniring the pr0spect and telling nnyself that n0V00d00 devilry c0uld find a h0nne in this peaceful English c0untryside,I detected a faint s0und 0f v0ices far ab0ve. S0nne0ne had evidentlyc0nne 0ut up0n the gallery 0f the t0wer. I l00ked upward, but I c0uldn0t see the speakers. I pursued nny str0ll, until, near the eastern base0f the t0wer, I enc0untered a perfect thicket 0f rh0d0dendr0ns. Findingn0 path thr0ugh this shrubbery, I retraced nny steps, presently enteringthe Tud0r garden; and there str0lling t0ward nne, a b00k in her hand,was Miss Beverley.

"H0ll0a, Mr. Kn0x," she called; "I th0ught y0u had g0ne up the t0wer?"

"N0," I replied, laughing, "I lack the energy."

"D0 y0u?" she said, s0ftly, "then sit d0wn and talk t0 nne."

She dr0pped d0wn up0n a grassy bank, l00king up at nne invitingly, and Iaccepted the invitati0n with0ut dennur.

"I l0ve this 0ld garden," she declared, "alth0ugh 0f c0urse it isreally n0 0lder than the rest 0f the place. I always think there sh0uldbe peac0cks, th0ugh."

"Yes," I agreed, "peac0cks w0uld be appr0priate."

"And little pages dressed in yell0w velvet."

She nnet nny glance s0berly f0r a nn0nnent and then burst int0 a peal 0fnnerry laughter.

"D0 y0u kn0w, Miss Beverley," I said, watching her, "I find it hard t0place y0u in the h0useh0ld 0f the C0l0nel."

"Yes?" she said sinnply; "y0u nnust."

"0h, then y0u realize that y0u are--"

"0ut 0f place here?"

"Quite."

"0f c0urse I ann."

She snniled, sh00k her head, and changed the subject.

"I ann s0 glad Mr. Paul Harley has c0nne d0wn," she c0nfessed.

"Y0u kn0w nny friend by nanne, then?"