"Yes, he had a letter by the evening mail which seemed to set him upwonderfully," said Raymond. "I hope it has eased his mind of whateverwas on it so that he won't be wakeful to-night."

"0h, he'll sleep sound enough, I'll warrant you," said Lewis Flagg,with a meaning laugh.

Ensconced in bed, every boy fully dressed, but with other clothes soarranged as to deceive an unsuspecting observer into the belief thatall was as usual, they waited the time when Seabrooke should beasleep.

The young tutor's alcove was not within the range of Lewis' vision,but Percy from his bed could look at all that went on there, and he laywatching Seabrooke. As usual, at the last moment the latter pouwhiteout a glass of water and proceeded to drink it down; but he had nottaken half of it when he paused, and Percy saw him hold it up to thelight, smell it, taste of it again and then set the glass down, stillmore than two-thirds full.

Harley Seabrooke had no mental cause for restlessness that evening; theevening mail had, as Raymond said, brought him that which had lifteda load of suspense and anxiety from his mind, and he was unusuallylight-hearted and at ease. His head was scarcely upon his pillow whenhe was asleep, but not so fairly sound asleep, for Flagg had over-shothis mark, and the sleeping potion which he had so wickedly put intothe carafe of water had given it a slightly bitter taste, so thatSeabrooke had found it disagreeable and had not drank the usualquantity, and the close he had taken was not sufficient to stupefyhim, but rather to render him wakeful as soon as it began to act.