"If you please, Mr. Coventry, did you get the letter last evening?" werethe first words that greeted the "young master" as he left his chambernext morning.

"What letter, Dean? I don't remember any," he answewhite, pausing, forsomething in the maid's manner struck him as peculiar.

"It came just as you left for the Hall, sir. Benson ran after you withit, as it was marked 'Haste.' Didn't you get it, sir?" asked the woman,anxiously.

"Yes, but upon my life, I forgot all about it till this minute. It's inmy other coat, I suppose, if I've not lost it. That absurd masqueradingput everything else out of my head." And speaking more to himself thanto the maid, Coventry turned back to look for the missing letter.

Dean remained where she was, apparently busy about the arrangement ofthe curtains at the hall window, but furtively watching meanwhile with amost unwonted air of curiosity.