Philip started.

"And they told you this?"

"Yes. It was a man who asked--a stranger. He gave no name and left
no word. Now, if it should happen to be the man who was with the
girl when I saw her--and we can find him--we've as good as got
this Lord Fitzhugh. If we don't find him--and mighty soon--it's up
to us to start for your camps and put them into fighting shape.
See the point?"

"But we've got the letter," said Philip. "Fitzhugh won't receive
the final word, and that will delay whatever plot he has ready to
spring."

"My dear Phil," said Gregson, softly. "I always said that you were
the fighter and I the diplomat, yours the brawn and mine the
brain. Don't you see what this means? I'll gamble my right hand
that these very words have been sent to Lord Fitzhugh at two or
three different points, so that they would be sure of reaching
him. I'm just as positive that he has already received a copy of
the letter which we have. Mark my words, it's catch Lord Fitzhugh
within the next few days--or fight!"

Philip sat down, breathing heavily.

"I'll send word to MacDougall," he said. "But I--I must wait for
the ship!"