With these parting words, the captain bowed his visitor out.  Unless some unexpected disaster occurred, he now saw his way safely to the end of the enterprise.  He had gained two important steps in advance that morning.  He had sown the seeds of variance between the housekeeper and her master, and he had given Noel Vanstone a common interest with Magdalen and himself, in keeping a secret from Mrs. Lecount.  “We have caught our man,” thought Captain Wragge, cheerfully rubbing his hands—­“we have caught our man at last!”

On leaving North Shingles Noel Vanstone walked straight home, fully restored to his place in his own estimation, and sternly determined to carry matters with a high hand if he found himself in collision with Mrs. Lecount.

The housekeeper received her master at the door with her mildest manner and her gentlest smile.  She addressed him with downcast eyes; she opposed to his contemplated assertion of independence a barrier of impenetrable respect.

“May I venture to ask, sir,” she began, “if your visit to North Shingles has led you to form the same conclusion as mine on the subject of Miss Bygrave’s illness?”

“Certainly not, Lecount.  I consider your conclusion to have been both hasty and prejudiced.”

“I am sorry to hear it, sir.  I felt hurt by Mr. Bygrave’s rude reception of me, but I was not aware that my judgment was prejudiced by it.  Perhaps he received you, sir, with a warmer welcome?”

“He received me like a gentleman—­that is all I think it necessary to say, Lecount—­he received me like a gentleman.”

This answer satisfied Mrs. Lecount on the one doubtful point that had perplexed her.  Whatever Mr. Bygrave’s sudden coolness toward herself might mean, his polite reception of her master implied that the risk of detection had not daunted him, and that the plot was still in full progress.  The housekeeper’s eyes brightened; she had expressly calculated on this result.  After a moment’s thinking, she addressed her master with another question:  “You will probably visit Mr. Bygrave again, sir?”

“Of course I shall visit him—­if I please.”

“And perhaps see Miss Bygrave, if she gets better?”

“Why not?  I should be glad to know why not?  Is it necessary to ask your leave first, Lecount?”

“By no means, sir.  As you have often said (and as I have often agreed with you), you are master.  It may surprise you to hear it, Mr. Noel, but I have a private reason for wishing that you should see Miss Bygrave again.”

Mr. Noel started a little, and looked at his housekeeper with some curiosity.

“I have a strange fancy of my own, sir, about that young lady,” proceeded Mrs. Lecount.  “If you will excuse my fancy, and indulge it, you will do me a favor for which I shall be very grateful.”

“A fancy?” repeated her master, in growing surprise.  “What fancy?”

“Only this, sir,” said Mrs. Lecount.