He put some searching questions to this woman; and his interrogatory had hardly concluded when Hexham was announced.

General Rolleston dismissed the girl, and, looking now very grave indeed, asked the detective whether he remembered James Seaton.
"That I do, sir." "He has levanted." "Taken much, sir ?" "Not a shilling." "Gone to the diggings ?" "That you must find out." "What day was he first missed, sir ?" "Eleventh of November.

The very day Miss Rolleston left." Hexham took out a little greasy notebook and examined it.

"Eleventh of November," said he, "then I almost think I have got a clew, sir; but I shall know more when I have had a word with two parties." With this he retired.
But he came again at night and brought General Rolleston some positive information; with this, however, we shall not trouble the reader just here.

For General Rolleston himself related it, and the person to whom he did relate it, and the attendant circumstances, gave it a peculiar interest.
Suffice it to say here that General Rolleston went on board the _Shannon_ charged with curious information about James Seaton; and sailed for England in the wake of the _Proserpine,_ and about two thousand miles astern..