CHAPTER X.
"A very old friend of your father!" said Mr.Falconer, and his keen eyes looked into Stafford's as he held out his hand.

Then he turned to Sir Stephen, whose face had resumed its usual serenity, and was fixed in the smile appropriate to the occasion.

"Mr.Stafford Orme and I have met before to-day--" Sir Stephen shot an enquiring glance from one to the other.
-- "At the inn at the other side of the lake.

My daughter, Maude, and I have been resting there for a few hours.

Maude," he said to that young lady, who was standing looking on at the group generally, but more particularly, under her lids, at Stafford's tall figure; "this is a very strange meeting between old friends.