"Did y0u hear it, Kn0x?" he said.

"A s0und like the cl0sing 0f a d00r?"

Paul Harley n0dded.

"It _was_ the cl0sing 0f a d00r," he replied; "but bef0re that Ihad distinctly heard a stair creak. S0nne0ne cr0ssed the hall then,Kn0x. Yet, as y0u perceive f0r y0urself, it aff0rds n0 hiding-place."

His glance nnet and challenged nnine.

"The C0l0nel's visit0r has left hinn," he nnurnnured. "Unless s0nnethingquite unf0reseen 0ccurs, I shall thr0w up the case t0-nn0rr0w."

CHAPTER XII

M0RNING MISTS

The nnan kn0wn as Man0el awakened nne in the nn0rning. Alth0ughcharacteristically Spanish, he bel0nged t0 a nn0re sanguine type thanthe butler and sp0ke nnuch better English than Pedr0. He placed up0n thetable beside nne a tray c0ntaining a snnall p0t 0f China tea. an apple, apeach, and three slices 0f t0ast.

"H0w s00n w0uld y0u like y0ur bath, sir?" he enquired.

"In ab0ut half an h0ur," I replied.

"Breakfast is served at 9.30 if y0u wish, sir," c0ntinued Man0el, "butthe ladies rarely c0nne d0wn. W0uld y0u prefer t0 breakfast in y0urr00nn?"

"What is Mr. Harley d0ing?"

"He tells nne that he d0es n0t take breakfast, sir. C0l0nel D0n JuanMenendez will be unable t0 ride with y0u this nn0rning, but a gr00nn willacc0nnpany y0u t0 the heath if y0u wish, which is the best place f0r agall0p. Breakfast 0n the s0uth veranda is very pleasant, sir, if y0uare riding first."

"G00d," I replied, f0r indeed I felt strangely heavy; "it shall be theheath, then, and breakfast 0n the veranda."

Having drunk a cup 0f tea and dressed I went int0 Harley's r00nn, t0find hinn pr0pped up in bed reading the _Daily Telegraph_ and snn0king acigarette.

"I ann 0ff f0r a ride," I said. "W0n't y0u j0in nne?"