Alban reached London early enough in the afternoon to find thedoctor at his luncheon. "Too late to see Mrs. Ellmother," heannounced. "Sit down and have something to eat."

"Has she left any message for me?"

"A message, my good friend, that you won't like to hear. She isoff w ith her mistress, this morning, on a visit to Mr. Mirabel'ssister."

"Does he go with them?"

"No; he follows by a later train."

"Has Mrs. Ellmother mentioned the address?"

"There it is, in her own handwriting."

Alban read the address:--"Mrs. Delvin, The Clink, Belford,Northumberland."

"Turn to the back of that bit of paper," the doctor said. "Mrs.Ellmother has written something on it."

She had written these words: "No discoveries made by Mr. Mirabel,up to this time. Sir Jervis Redwood is dead. The Rooks arebelieved to be in Scotland; and Miss Emily, if need be, is tohelp the parson to find them. No news of Miss Jethro."

"Now you have got your information," Doctor Allday resumed, "letme have a look at you. You're not in a rage: that's a good signto begin with."

"I am not the less determined," Alban answered.

"To bring Emily to her senses?" the doctor asked.

"To do what Mirabel has _not_ done--and then to let her choosebetween us."

"Ay? ay? Your good opinion of her hasn't altered, though she hastreated you so badly?"

"My good opinion makes allowance for the state of my poordarling's mind, after the shock that has fallen on her," Albananswered quietly. "She is not _my_ Emily now. She will be _my_Emily yet. I told her I was convinced of it, in the old days atschool--and my conviction is as strong as ever. Have you seenher, since I have been away at Netherwoods?"

"Yes; and she is as angry with me as she is with you."

"For the same reason?"

"No, no. I heard enough to warn me to hold my tongue. I refusedto help her--that's all. You are a man, and you may run riskswhich no young girl ought to encounter. Do you remember when Iasked you to drop all further inquiries into the murder, forEmily's sake? The circumstances have altered since that time. CanI be of any use?"

"Of the greatest use, if you can give me Miss Jethro's address."

"Oh! You mean to begin in that way, do you?"

"Yes. You know that Miss Jethro visited me at Netherwoods?"

"Go on."

"She showed me your answer to a letter which she had written toyou. Have you got that letter?"

Doctor Allday produced it. The address was at a post-office, in atown on the south coast. Looking up when he had copied it, Albansaw the doctor's eyes fixed on him with an oddly-mingledexpression: partly of sympathy, partly of hesitation.

"Have you anything to suggest?" he asked.

"You will get nothing out of Miss Jethro," the doctor answered,"unless--" there he stopped.

"Unless, what?"

"Unless you can frighten her."

"How am I to do that?"

After a little reflection, Doctor Allday returned, without anyapparent reason, to the subject of his last visit to Emily.

"There was one thing she said, in the course of our talk," hecontinued, "which struck me as being sensible: possibly (for weare all more or less conceited), because I agreed with hermyself. She suspects Miss Jethro of knowing more about thatdamnable murder than Miss Jethro is willing to acknowledge. Ifyou want to produce the right effect on her--" he looked hard atAlban and checked himself once more.

"Well? what am I to do?"

"Tell her you have an idea of who the murderer is."

"But I have no idea."

"But _I_ have."

"Good God! what do you mean?"

"Don't mistake me! An impression has been produced on mymind--that's all. Call it a freak or fancy; worth trying perhapsas a bold experiment, and worth nothing more. Come a littlenearer. My housekeeper is an excellent woman, but I have once ortwice caught her rather too near to that door. I think I'llwhisper it."

He did whisper it. In breathless wonder, Alban heard of the doubtwhich had crossed Doctor Allday's mind, on the evening whenMirabel had called at his house.

"You look as if you didn't believe it," the doctor remarked.

"I'm thinking of Emily. For her sake I hope and trust you arewrong. Ought I to go to her at once? I don't know what to do!"

"Find out first, my good fellow, whether I am right or wrong. Youcan do it, if you will run the risk with Miss Jethro."

Alban recovered himself. His old friend's advice was clearly theright advice to follow. He examined his railway guide, and thenlooked at his watch. "If I can find Miss Jethro," he answered,"I'll risk it before the day is out."

Tile doctor accompanied him to the door. "You will write to me,won't you?"

"Without fail. Thank you--and good-by."