What need of a CLUE if you can interpret character ?" So certain was Hilda Wade of her conclusions, indeed, that Mrs.Mallet begged me next day to take my holiday at once--which I could easily do--and go down to the little bay in the Hartland district of which she had spoken, in search of Hugo.

I consented.

She herself proposed to set out quietly for Bideford, where she could be within easy reach of me, in order to hear of my success or failure; while Hilda Wade, whose summer vacation was to have begun in two days' time, offered to ask for an extra day's leave so as to accompany her.

The broken-hearted sister accepted the offer; and, secrecy being above all things necessary, we set off by different routes: the two women by Waterloo, myself by Paddington.
We stopped that night at different hotels in Bideford; but next morning, Hilda rode out on her bicycle, and accompanied me on mine for a mile or two along the tortuous way towards Hartland.

"Take nothing for granted," she said, as we parted; "and be prepared to find poor Hugo Le Geyt's appearance greatly changed.