“At the Murray Hill!  Is he stopping there?”

“He evidently was this morning.  So was I. Possibly we were both ‘stopping’ on the same business; I cannot say.”

The detective’s face was a study, as was also the attorney’s.

“I supposed,” said the latter, after a short pause, “from the tenor of his note, that he intended to leave the city at once.”

“Possibly he does,” replied the other, enigmatically, and, having consulted his watch, turned abruptly in another direction.

“Say, what will you do about him?  Shall you watch him?” Mr. Whitney called after the vanishing figure.

Merrick looked back over his shoulder with a peculiar smile.  “I shall not lose track of him,” he said, slowly; “he is too interesting.”

CHAPTER XV

MUTUAL SURPRISES

The Mainwaring party was among the latest arrivals at the pier on the following day, owing to the dilatoriness of Mr. Thornton, Mrs. Mainwaring’s efforts to the contrary notwithstanding.  At the last moment he appeared, serenely and smilingly unconscious of that lady’s frowns of displeasure, to the infinite amusement of his daughter, who whispered to Miss Carleton,-

“Poor papa!  See how auntie glares at him, and he does not even know it.”

But even Mrs. Mainwaring’s facial muscles relaxed slightly at the sight of the beautiful ocean greyhound lying in the harbor, her flags waving and streamers fluttering in the breeze, awaiting only the captain’s orders to start on her homeward course.

The decks were crowded with humanity, for the most part laughing and chatting gayly and singing bits of song, though here and there were sad, tear-stained faces, where long farewells, some of them perhaps the last farewells, were being spoken.

“Thank heaven, there’ll be no tears shed on this occasion!” said Isabel Mainwaring; “unless,” she added, with a glance of scorn towards Miss Carleton’s escort, “Mr. Whitney should contribute a few.  I detest such vulgar demonstrations in public!”

The attorney certainly did not look very cheerful, and even Miss Carleton’s sunny face was somewhat overcast, though why, it would seem difficult to determine, since she seemed to have no regrets at leaving America.

“Mercy me!” ejaculated Mrs. Mainwaring, “what a dreadful crowd!  It is far worse than when we came over.  Hugh, I wonder if your father examined the ship’s list.  I particularly requested him to do so.  I wished to ascertain whether there would be any friends of ours on board.  One does not care to make acquaintances promiscuously, you know.”

“I don’t think the governor investigated the subject very thoroughly,” young Mainwaring replied, with a laugh.  “I noticed when we registered there were three or four pages of names preceding ours, and I don’t think he gave the matter much attention.  If I had time I would look it up for you, mother, but we must go ashore in a few moments.”