Viner glanced at Miss Penkridge. They were quick to understand each
other, these two, and he knew at once that Miss Penkridge saw what was
in his mind.

"You must stay with us," he said, turning to the two mournful
figures. "We have any amount of room in this house, and we shall be
only too glad--"

"Oh, but that is too--" began both ladies.

"I insist," said Viner, with a smile.

"We both insist!" echoed Miss Penkridge. "We are both given to having
our own way, too; so say no more about it. We are all in the same boat
just now, and its name is _Mystery_, and we must pull together until
we're in harbour."

"Listen!" said Viner. "I have to go away tonight, on a matter closely
connected with this affair. Let me leave you in my aunt's charge, and
tomorrow I may be able to give you some cheering news. You'll be much
more comfortable here than in any lodgings or hotel and--and I should
like to do something for Hyde; we're old schoolfellows, you know."

Then he escaped from the room and made ready for his journey; and at
half-past five came Mr. Pawle in his private car and carried him off into
the dark. And hour and a half later the car rolled smoothly into the main
street of a quiet, wholly Arcadian little town, and pulled up before an
old-fashioned many-gabled house over the door of which was set up one of
those ancient signs which, in such places, display the coat of arms of
the lord of the manor. Viner had just time to glance around him, and in a