So he started for the country, and in due time reached the station near Soldier's Rest, as the home of the colonel was called.
He took a hack and started for the villa, leaving the vehicle at the gate, while he advanced on foot, having told the driver to wait for him.
It was a lordly place, a grand mansion, surrounded by spacious, ornamental grounds on one side, flower gardens in the rear, a lawn in the front, and a park upon the other side.
The grounds sloped down to the walk, and there were pleasure boats to invite to a sail or a row.
The view from the piazzas was beautiful in the extreme, and altogether a more charming country home could not be found than was Soldier's Rest.
"A place for a gentleman of my taste to live, this," said Schuyler Cluett, as he walked up the grand path to the mansion.
"By jove! a bright idea strikes me, and I hope I am not too late to carry it out.
"Let me see: if I should keep in the back-ground, that is, out of sight, and get rid of this gallant colonel, that is, let him meet with some accident to cause his death, why my wife would be his heiress, of course.
"Then I could come in, and after half a year's mourning I could force her to marry me, for appearances' sake, and I'd have all.