I trust in you, Gabrielle dear, to guard my secrets from prying eyes.

I know that you yourself must often be puzzled, but that is only natural." Unfamiliar as the girl was with business in any form, she had during the past year arrived at the conclusion, after much debate within herself, that this source of her father's income was a distinctly mysterious one.
The estates were, of course, large, and he employed agents to manage them; but they could not produce that huge income which she knew he possessed, for had she not more than once seen the amount of his balance at his banker's as well as the large sum he had on deposit?
The source of his colossal wealth was a mystery, but was no doubt connected with his curious and constant communications with Paris.
At rare intervals a grey-faced, grey-bearded, and rather stout Frenchman--a certain Monsieur Goslin--called, and on such occasions was closeted for a long time alone with Sir Henry, evidently discussing some important affair in secret.

To her ladyship, as well as to Gabrielle, the Frenchman was most courteous, but refused the pressing invitations to remain the night.

He always arrived by the morning train from Perth, and left for the south the same night, the express being stopped for him by signal at Auchterarder station.

The mysterious visitor puzzled Gabrielle considerably.