"Sorry," said Timothy. "As a matter of fact, he isn't my uncle, though. Actually he isn't any relation at all."

"Well, you go and get dressed," replied Miss Allison. "Then you can help look for him."

It seemed good to Timothy to follow this advice. He said: "Sure thing!" and disappeared into his room again.

"I'll do the same," said Miss Allison. "You've warned Ogle not to say anything to Mrs. Kane, I hope? Not that I think she would."

"The female staff knows nothing as yet, miss. I thought it best to speak to you first."

"Don't tell them anything, then, till we know just what's happened. I'll be down in a few minutes."

She dressed in haste but was beaten in the race by Mr. Harte, who was downstairs ten minutes ahead of her, having decided that excessive ablutions in a moment of stress would be frivolous.

He did not await her arrival but went out at once to take part in the search for his host. Just as Miss Allison reached the hall he came into the house with a very white face and said jerkily: "I've met them. I say, it's pretty ghastly, Miss Allison. He's dead."

She did not say anything for a moment. Silas Kane's death was a possibility she had already realised; the news of it merely confirmed her fear.

"They're bringing him up to the house," said Timothy. "Honestly, I didn't think anything like this would happen, Miss Allison."

"No. Of course not." She turned as Pritchard came into the hall from the servants' wing and said as quietly as she could: "Master Timothy has told me, Pritchard. How did it happen? Have you any idea?"

The butler looked very much shaken. "They found him at the foot of the cliff, miss.