It had also been noted and commented upon by a few observant people that there were signs sometimes of some nerve-strain upon the part of Mrs.Douglas, and that she would display acute uneasiness if her absent husband should ever be particularly late in his return.

On a quiet countryside, where all gossip is welcome, this weakness of the lady of the Manor House did not pass without remark, and it bulked larger upon people's memory when the events arose which gave it a very special significance.
There was yet another individual whose residence under that roof was, it is true, only an intermittent one, but whose presence at the time of the strange happenings which will now be narrated brought his name prominently before the public.

This was Cecil James Barker, of Hales Lodge, Hampstead.
Cecil Barker's tall, loose-jointed figure was a familiar one in the main street of Birlstone village; for he was a frequent and welcome visitor at the Manor House.

He was the more noticed as being the only friend of the past unknown life of Mr.Douglas who was ever seen in his new English surroundings.

Barker was himself an undoubted Englishman; but by his remarks it was clear that he had first known Douglas in America and had there lived on intimate terms with him.