He got home to Lesser Hill just as Sir Nathaniel was beginning lunch.

Mr.Salton had gone to Walsall to keep an early appointment; so he was all alone.

When the meal was over--seeing in Adam's face that he had something to speak about--he followed into the study and shut the door.
When the two men had lighted their pipes, Sir Nathaniel began.
"I have remembered an interesting fact about Diana's Grove--there is, I have long understood, some strange mystery about that house.

It may be of some interest, or it may be trivial, in such a tangled skein as we are trying to unravel." "Please tell me all you know' or suspect.

To begin, then, of what sort is the mystery--physical, mental, moral, historical, scientific, occult?
Any kind of hint will help me." "Quite right.