Tathams, whom she probably knew, but was determined to keep him to his
rôle of stranger and tourist.

"You had better look at Threlfall as you pass. It has a splendid
situation."

"I will. But why ought I to have heard of the gentleman? I forget his
name."

"Mr. Melrose? Oh, well--he's a legend about here. We all talk about him."

"What's wrong with him? Is he a nuisance?--or a lunatic?"

"It depends what you have to do with him. About here he goes by the name
of the 'Ogre.'"

"How, does he eat people up?" asked the stranger, smiling.

The girl hesitated.

"Ask one of his tenants!" she said at last.

"Oh, he's a landlord, and a bad one?"

She nodded, a sudden sharpness in her gray eyes.

"But that's not the common reason for the name. It's because he shuts
himself up--in a house full of treasures. He's a great collector."

"Of works of art? You--don't need to be mad to do that! It seems to be