"Well, Roarke, are you ready for business?"
And the tramp replied: "You bet, if it's a solid racket."
"Then follow me, at a distance, until we reach a place where we can talk things over." And Mr. Belknap moved on, never once glancing back.
The tramp once more seated himself beside the fence, and resumed his occupation. When the last scrap of food was devoured, he arose, and, taking up a rough stick that served as a cane, he followed the receding form of the private detective.
At sunset, Ray Vandyck presented himself punctually for further instructions, at Wardour.
"You are released, Ray," said Constance, coming to meet him, with a bright face and a warm hand-clasp. "You are free to follow your own devices; Doctor Heath has a better guardian than either you or I."
"Cool, upon my word," said Ray, with a grimace. "So I am discharged without references?"
"Even so, and you must be content without an explanation, too, for the present. My tongue is still tied."