that. You are trying to help Dad, and he is fretting because he has to pay a lot of money on the 10th of January.”

Dolly opened her eyes widely.

“Who told you?” she cried.

“Sh-s-s-sh. There’s Mam calling. She wants us to look in at nurse’s cottage. What about Jack—quick!”

“I’ll see,” whispered Dolly.

People who play poker are a bit doubtful when they say that. If you add the recognized fact that the woman who hesitates is lost you will understand at once that when Minkie and I climbed over the orchard fence at 2.15, Miss Dorothy came running after us.

“Mam has gone upstairs, and Mr. Schwartz and father are in the library, so I will join you in your stroll,” she said, trying to keep up a pretence.

“Step out, then,” said Minkie. “Jack will be waiting.”

He was. He saw us coming long before we [Pg 63]reached the cross roads, and his first words meant war.

[Pg 63]

“Who is this fellow Schwartz?” he demanded.

“A friend of—father’s,” said Dorothy.

“Well, he is a rogue,” said Jack. “I wanted to warn Mr. Grosvenor about him this morning, but he wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Oh, was that it?” and Dorothy’s nose went up in the air.

“Partly. Not all. I say, Minkie, if you take Dan into the warren you will find a heap of rabbits. The keepers are a mile away. I told them you were coming.”

“Then Dan can go by himself. I am far more interested in Schwartz than Dot is. Do you know anything about ju-jus?”

“By Jove, Minkie, you do come to the point. Why, that blessed nigger prince is at the Manor now, plotting all sorts of mischief with my uncle.”

“How did he get there? I suppose 

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