Shall you wish to visit Overlook ? "

" That will doubtless be the best beginning. I



THE MAN WHO WAS HELD 19

should like to go there, however, not as a detective,
but as a tenant, if I can arrange terms."

" That point need not trouble you. You are wel-
come to use the place indefinitely. The property
is in the hands of an agent, but I will see that he
understands the situation. When will you care to
go out?"

" To-morrow if I may."

" So soon ? Then I will give you a note to Mr.
Arms, the farmer, who is also caretaker of the
grounds. The house, you understand, is closed and
deserted. Perhaps you would be more comfortable
at the farm. Mrs. Arms has taken a summer
boarder before now. In that way you would have
the run of the place without the inconvenience of
keeping it up."

" That feature has no terror for me. Mine will
be a bachelor establishment, and I know a French-
man who will jump at the chance of going out with
me as general factotum. Besides, I think that I
should be freer at the villa."

" That is possible. The Wintonites are a simple-
hearted, hospitable folk, distinctively rural in type,
and ready enough to take a stranger into their circle,
unless, indeed, a connection with ^ The Place of
Silence,' as I hear they have come to call Overlook,
stands in the way. Excuse me for a moment and I
will write an introduction to Mr. Arms."

He turned to a writing table at his elbow and
penned a few lines, which he handed to me.
