CHAPTER 6.
THE FIRST LETTER After leaving Mr.Ward I returned to my home in Long Street.

There I had plenty of time to consider this strange case uninterrupted by either wife or children.

My household consisted solely of an ancient servant, who having been formerly in the service of my mother, had now continued for fifteen years in mine.
Two months before I had obtained a leave of absence.

It had still two weeks to run, unless indeed some unforeseen circumstance interrupted it, some mission which could not be delayed.

This leave, as I have shown, had already been interrupted for four days by my exploration of the Great Eyrie.
And now was it not my duty to abandon my vacation, and endeavor to throw light upon the remarkable events of which the road to Milwaukee and the shore of New England had been in turn the scene?
I would have given much to solve the twin mysteries, but how was it possible to follow the track of this automobile or this boat?
Seated in my easy chair after breakfast, with my pipe lighted, I opened my newspaper.