"There's a cab pulling up at the door," said Reg, excitedly. He had scarcely spoken when there was a loud knock at the door.
Miss O'Flynn opened the door, and the visitor entered.
CHAPTER XXIX.
EAR-MARKED.
The room into which the gentleman was shewn was in the centre of the house, and was furnished as a sitting-room. Miss O'Flynn followed him in and closed the door, which was immediately locked on the outside. A second door which led into another apartment, was screened by a heavy curtain. The door it hid was kept ajar, so that the people interested, who were waiting in the room, could hear all that passed. The first thing that caught the visitor's eye was the notched stick lying on the table, which he eagerly picked up.
"Ah, here we are, miss. Yes, this is the very stick," he said, as he examined it carefully.
"The poor fellow who owned it was drowned, I believe," said Miss O'Flynn.
"I want this stick as a memento of him," answered the gentleman, sweetly.
"But I can't part with it on any account."