Accordingly, the next morning, Pietro brought the dog up to the Park.  The animal was sullen, and would accept of attentions from no one save Margie, to whom he seemed to take at first sight.  And after she had spoken to him kindly, and patted his head, he refused all persuasions and commands to leave her.

Mr. Darby, the detective, whose services had been engaged in the affair, exerted all his powers of entreaty on the dog, but the animal clung to Margie, and would not even look in the direction of the almost frantic detective.

“It’s no use, Miss Harrison,” said Darby, “the cur wont stir an inch.  You will have to come with him!  Sorry to ask ye, but this thing must be seen into.”

“Very well, I will accompany you,” said Margie, rising, and throwing on a shawl, she went out with them, followed by Mrs. Weldon, Alexandrine, and two or three other ladies.

Leo kept close to Margie, trotting along beside her, uttering every now and then a low whine indicative of anticipation and pleasure.

Darby produced a handkerchief which had belonged to Mr. Paul Linmere, and which he had found in his rooms, lying on his dressing-table.  He showed this to the dog; Leo snuffed at it, and gave a sharp grunt of displeasure.

“We want you to find him, Leo, good dog,” said the Italian, stroking the silky ears of the dog; “find your master.”

Leo understood, but he looked around in evident perplexity.

“Take him to the depot!” said Mr. Trevlyn, “he may find the trail there.”

They went to the station; the dog sniffed hurriedly at the platform, and in a moment more dashed off into the highway leading to Harrison Park.

“Him got him!” cried Pietro; “him find my master!”

The whole company joined in following the dog.  He went straight ahead, his nose to the ground, his fleet limbs bearing him along with a rapidity that the anxious followers found it hard to emulate.

At a brook which crossed the road he stopped, seemed a little confused, crossed it finally on stepping stones, paused a moment by the side of a bare nut tree, leaped the fence, and dashed off through a grass field.  Keeping steadily on, he made for the grounds of the Park, passed the drained pond, and the frost-ruined garden, and pausing before the inclosure where slept the Harrison dead, he lifted his head and gave utterance to a howl so wild, so savagely unearthly, that it chilled the blood in the veins of those who heard.  An instant he paused, and then dashing through the hedge, was lost to view.

“He is found!  My master is found!” said Pietro, solemnly, removing his cap, and wiping a tear from his eye.  For the man was attached to Mr. Paul Linmere, in his rough way, and the tear was one of genuine sorrow.

His companions looked at each other.  Alexandrine grasped the arm of Margie, and leaned heavily upon her.

“Let us go to the house—­” she faltered, “I cannot bear it.”