"First of all, sir," urged Dick, "let me give the best description
I can of the man we've seen."

"A good idea," nodded Mr. Ripley. "Go ahead."

Nor had young Prescott been engaged very long in his task of description
before the tall man broke in excitedly:

"That's our man, beyond a question! Where did you see him? When?"

Dick hastily recounted the strange happenings at the supposedly
untenanted cottage of the old water-works project.

"We must get there without delay," called the tall man to two
other men who, so far, had kept in the background in the lawyer's
office, but who had been deeply interested hearers. "One of you
boys must go up there with us. How far is it from here?"

"Come through into my rear office," suggested Mr. Ripley, "and
I can show you the spot from a window. Come along, Prescott,
and tell me if I'm right. Hello! There seems to be some trouble
up that way," added Mr. Ripley, as he reached one of the windows
at the rear.

"There's a fire up there under the hill," cried Dick Prescott,
as he pressed forward to another window. "Mr. Ripley, from the
location of the smoke, I should say that the cottage itself is
afire!"

"And I believe you're right," agreed the lawyer.