CHAPTER XVI.
Mr.William Hayter, in the solitude of his chambers at the Milan Court, was a very altered personage.

He extended no welcoming salutation to his midnight visitor but simply motioned him to a chair.
"Well," he began, "is your task finished that you are in London ?" "My task," Lessingham replied, "might just as well never have been entered upon.

The man you sent me to watch is nothing but an ordinary sport-loving Englishman." "Really! You have lived as his neighbour for nearly a month, and that is your impression of him ?" "It is," Lessingham assented.

"He has been away sea-fishing, half the time, but I have searched his house thoroughly." "Searched his papers, eh ?" "Every one I could find, and hated the job.

There are a good many charts of the coast, but they are all for the use of the fishermen." "Wonderful!" Hayter scoffed.