"You didn't tell the callers where you expected to
find me, did you?" I asked Bates, as he brushed me off
in the kitchen.
"No, sir. Mr. Stoddard received the gentlemen. He
rang the bell for me and when I went into the library
he was saying, 'Mr. Glenarm is at his studies. Bates,'-
he says-'kindly tell Mr. Glenarm that I'm sorry to interrupt
him, but won't he please come down?' I thought
it rather neat, sir, considering his clerical office. I
knew you were below somewhere, sir; the trap-door was
open and I found you easily enough."
Bates' eyes were brighter than I had ever seen them.
A certain buoyant note gave an entirely new tone to
his voice. He walked ahead of me to the library door,
threw it open and stood aside.
"Here you are, Glenarm," said Stoddard. Pickering
and a stranger stood near the fireplace in their overcoats.
Pickering advanced and offered his hand, but I
turned away from him without taking it. His companion,
a burly countryman, stood staring, a paper in his
hand.
"The sheriff," Pickering explained, "and our business
is rather personal-"
He glanced at Stoddard, who looked at me.
"Mr. Stoddard will do me the kindness to remain,"
I said and took my stand beside the chaplain.
"Oh!" Pickering ejaculated scornfully. "I didn't
understand that you had established relations with the
neighboring clergy. Your taste is improving, Glenarm."
"Mr. Glenarm is a friend of mine," remarked Stoddard
quietly. "A very particular friend," he added.
"I congratulate you-both."
I laughed. Pickering was surveying the room as he
spoke,-and Stoddard suddenly stepped toward him,
merely, I think, to draw up a chair for the sheriff; but
Pickering, not hearing Stoddard's step on the soft rug
until the clergyman was close beside him, started perceptibly
and reddened.
It was certainly ludicrous, and when Stoddard faced
me again he was biting his lip.
"Pardon me!" he murmured.
"Now, gentlemen, will you kindly state your business?
My own affairs press me."
Pickering was studying the cartridge boxes on the
library table. The sheriff, too, was viewing these effects
with interest not, I think, unmixed with awe.
"Glenarm, I don't like to invoke the law to eject you
from this property, but I am left with no alternative.
I can't stay out here indefinitely, and I want to know
what I'm to expect."
"That is a fair question," I replied. "If it were
merely a matter of following the terms of the will I
should not hesitate or be here now. But it isn't the will,
or my grandfather, that keeps me, it's the determination
to give you all the annoyance possible,-to make it
hard and mighty hard for you to get hold of this house
until I have found why you are so much interested
in it."