"I was up pretty early this morning," Hewitt remarked on Mr. Crellan's return to the study, "and, among other things, I sent a telegram to London. Unless my eyes deceive me, a boy with a peaked cap—a telegraph boy, in fact—is coming up the drive this moment. Yes, he is. It is probably my answer."
In a few minutes a telegram was brought in. Hewitt read it and then asked,—
"Your friend Mr. Mellis, I understand, was going straight to town yesterday morning?"
"Yes."
"Read that, then."
Mr. Crellan took the telegram and read:
"Mellis did not sleep at chambers last night. Been out of town for some days past. Kerrett."
Mr. Crellan looked up.
"Who's Kerrett?" he asked.