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 Sample Final Exam #6
(Summer 2008; thanks to Hélène Martin)

1. Array Mystery
Consider the following method:
public static void arrayMystery(String[] a) {
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
a[i] = a[i] + a[a.length - 1 - i];
}
}
Indicate in the right-hand column what values would be stored in the array after the method arrayMystery executes
if the array in the left-hand column is passed as a parameter to it.
Original Contents of Array Final Contents of Array
String[] a1 = {"a", "b", "c"};
arrayMystery(a1); _____________________________

String[] a2 = {"a", "bb", "c", "dd"};

arrayMystery(a2); _____________________________

String[] a3 = {"z", "y", "142", "w", "xx"};

arrayMystery(a3); _____________________________

1 of 9
2. Reference Semantics Mystery
The following program produces 4 lines of output. Write the output below, as it would appear on the console.
public class Pokemon {
int level;

public Pokemon(int level) {

this.level = level;
}
}

public class ReferenceMystery {

public static void main(String[] args) {
int hp = 10;
Pokemon squirtle = new Pokemon(5);

battle(squirtle, hp);
System.out.println("Level " + squirtle.level + ", " + hp + " hp");

hp = hp + squirtle.level;

battle(squirtle, hp + 1);
System.out.println("Level " + squirtle.level + ", " + hp + " hp");
}

public static void battle(Pokemon poke, int hp) {

poke.level++;
hp -= 5;
System.out.println("Level " + poke.level + ", " + hp + " hp");
}
}

2 of 9
3. Inheritance Mystery
Assume that the following classes have been defined:

public class Dog extends Cat { public class Cat {

public void m1() { public void m1() {
m2(); System.out.print("cat 1 ");
System.out.print("dog 1 "); }
}
} public void m2() {
System.out.print("cat 2 ");
public class Lion extends Dog { }
public void m2() {
System.out.print("lion 2 "); public String toString() {
super.m2(); return "cat";
} }
}
public String toString() {
return "lion";
}
}
Given the classes above, what output is produced by the following code?
Cat[] elements = {new Dog(), new Cat(), new Lion()};
for (int i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
elements[i].m1();
System.out.println();
elements[i].m2();
System.out.println();
System.out.println(elements[i]);
System.out.println();
}

3 of 9
4. File Processing
Write a static method evaluate that accepts as a parameter a Scanner containing a series of tokens representing a
numeric expression involving addition and subtraction and that returns the value of the expression. For example, if a
Scanner called data contains the following tokens:
4.2 + 3.4 - 4.1
The call of evaluate(data); should evaluate the result as (4.2+3.4-4.1) = (7.6-4.1) = 3.5 and should return this
value as its result. Every expression will begin with a real number and then will have a series of operator/number
pairs that follow. The operators will be either + (addition) or - (subtraction). As in the example above, there will be
spaces separating numbers and operators. You may assume the expression is legal.
Your program should evaluate operators sequentially from left to right. For example, for this expression:
7.3 - 4.1 - 2.0
your method should evaluate the operators as follows:
7.3 - 4.1 - 2.0 = (7.3 - 4.1) - 2.0 = 3.2 - 2.0 = 1.2
The Scanner might contain just a number, in which case your method should return that number as its result.

4 of 9
5. File Processing
Write a static method blackjack that accepts as its parameter a Scanner for an input file containing a hand of
playing cards, and returns the point value of the hand in the card game Blackjack.
A card has a rank and a suit. There are 13 ranks: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King. There are 4
suits: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. A Blackjack hand's point value is the sum of its cards' point values. A
card's point value comes from its rank; the suit is irrelevant. In this problem, cards are worth the following points:
Rank Point Value
2-10 The card's rank (for example, a 7 is worth 7 points)
Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K) 10 points each
Ace (A) 11 points (for this problem; simplified compared to real Blackjack)
The input file contains a single hand of cards, each represented by a pair of "<rank> <suit>" tokens. For example:
5 Diamonds
Q Spades
2 Spades 3 Hearts
Given the above input, your method should return 20, since the cards' point values are 5 + 10 + 2 + 3 = 20.
The input can be in mixed casing, have odd spacing between tokens, and can be split across lines. For example:
2 Hearts
j SPADES a Diamonds
2 ClUbS
A
hearts
Given the above input, your method should return 36, since the cards' point values are 2 + 10 + 11 + 2 + 11 = 36.
You may assume that the Scanner contains at least 1 card (two tokens) of input, and that no line will contain any
tokens other than valid card data. The real game of Blackjack has many other rules that you should ignore for this
problem, such as the notion of going "bust" once you exceed a score of 21.

5 of 9
6. Array Programming
Write a static method named allPlural that accepts an array of strings as a parameter and returns true only if
every string in the array is a plural word, and false otherwise. For this problem a plural word is defined as any
string that ends with the letter S, case-insensitively. The empty string "" is not considered a plural word, but the
single-letter string "s" or "S" is. Your method should return true if passed an empty array (one with 0 elements).
The table below shows calls to your method and the expected values returned:
Array Call and Value Returned
String[] a1 = {"snails", "DOGS", "Cats"}; allPlural(a1) returns true
String[] a2 = {"builds", "Is", "S", "THRILLs", "CS"}; allPlural(a2) returns true
String[] a3 = {}; allPlural(a3) returns true
String[] a4 = {"She", "sells", "sea", "SHELLS"}; allPlural(a4) returns false
String[] a5 = {"HANDS", "feet", "toes", "OxEn"}; allPlural(a5) returns false
String[] a6 = {"shoes", "", "socks"}; allPlural(a6) returns false
For full credit, your method should not modify the array's elements.

6 of 9
7. Array Programming
Write a static method named reverseChunks that accepts two parameters, an array of integers a and an integer
"chunk" size s, and reverses every s elements of a. For example, if s is 2 and array a stores {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6},
a is rearranged to store {2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5}. With an s of 3 and the same elements {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, array
a is rearranged to store {3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4}. The chunks on this page are underlined for convenience.
If a's length is not evenly divisible by s, the remaining elements are untouched. For example, if s is 4 and array a
stores {5, 4, 9, 2, 1, 7, 8, 6, 2, 10}, a is rearranged to store {2, 9, 4, 5, 6, 8, 7, 1, 2, 10}.
It is also possible that s is larger than a's entire length, in which case the array is not modified at all. You may assume
that s is 1 or greater (an s of 1 would not modify the array). If array a is empty, its contents should remain unchanged.
The following table shows some calls to your method and their expected results:
Array and Call Array Contents After Call
int[] a1 = {20, 10, 30, 60, 50, 40}; {10, 20, 60, 30, 40, 50}
reverseChunks(a1, 2);
int[] a2 = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16}; {6, 4, 2, 12, 10, 8, 14, 16}
reverseChunks(a2, 3);
int[] a3 = {7, 1, 3, 5, 9, 8, 2, 6, 4, 10, 0, 12}; {9, 5, 3, 1, 7, 10, 4, 6, 2, 8, 0, 12}
reverseChunks(a3, 5);
int[] a4 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}; {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
reverseChunks(a4, 8);
int[] a5 = {}; {}
reverseChunks(a5, 2);

7 of 9
8. Critters
Write a class Minnow that extends Critter from HW8, along with its movement and eating behavior. All other
aspects of Minnow use the defaults. Add fields, constructors, etc. as necessary to your class.
Minnow objects initially move in a S/E/S/E/... pattern. However, when a Minnow encounters food (when its eat
method is called), it should do all of the following:
• Do not eat the food.
• Start the movement cycle over. In other words, the next move after eat is called should always be South.
• Lengthen and reverse the horizontal portion of the movement cycle pattern.
The Minnow should reverse its horizontal direction and increase its horizontal movement distance by 1 for
subsequent cycles. For example, if the Minnow had been moving S/E/S/E, it will now move S/W/W/S/W/W. If
it hits a second piece of food, it will move S/E/E/E/S/E/E/E, and a third, S/W/W/W/W/S/W/W/W/W, and so on.
?
The following is an example timeline of a particular Minnow object's movement. The ??
timeline below is also drawn in the diagram at right. Underlined occurrences mark squares ??
where the Minnow found food. ???
???
• S, E, S, E (hits food) ?
????
• S, W, W, S, W, W, S (hits food) ????
• S, E, E, E, S, E, E, E, S, E (hits food) ??
• S (hits food) ?
??????
• S, E, E, E, E, E, S, E, E, E, E, E, ...

8 of 9
9. Classes and Objects
Suppose that you are provided with a pre-written class Date as // Each Date object stores a single
described at right. (The headings are shown, but not the method // month/day such as September 19.
bodies, to save space.) Assume that the fields, constructor, and // This class ignores leap years.
methods shown are already implemented. You may refer to them
or use them in solving this problem if necessary. public class Date {
private int month;
Write an instance method named bound that will be placed inside private int day;
the Date class to become a part of each Date object's behavior.
The bound method constrains a Date to within a given range of // Constructs a date with
dates. It accepts two other Date objects d1 and d2 as parameters; // the given month and day.
public Date(int m, int d)
d1's date is guaranteed to represent a date that comes no later in
the year than d2's date. // Returns the date's day.
The bound method makes sure that this Date object is between public int getDay()
d1's and d2's dates, inclusive. If this Date object is not between
// Returns the date's month.
those dates inclusive, it is adjusted to the nearest date in the public int getMonth()
acceptable range. The method returns a result of true if this
Date was within the acceptable range, or false if it was shifted. // Returns the number of days
// in this date's month.
For example, given the following Date objects: public int daysInMonth()
Date date1 = new Date(7, 12);
Date date2 = new Date(10, 31); // Modifies this date's state
Date date3 = new Date(9, 19); // so that it has moved forward
Date bound1 = new Date(8, 4); // in time by 1 day, wrapping
Date bound2 = new Date(9, 26); // around into the next month
Date bound3 = new Date(12, 25); // or year if necessary.
// example: 9/19 -> 9/20
The following calls to your method should adjust the given Date // example: 9/30 -> 10/1
objects to represent the following dates and should return the // example: 12/31 -> 1/1
following results: public void nextDay()
call date becomes returns
date1.bound(bound1, bound2) 8/4 false
// your method would go here
date2.bound(bound1, bound2) 9/26 false
date3.bound(bound1, bound3) 9/19 true }
date2.bound(bound3, bound3) 12/25 false

9 of 9
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to lend money on the Dashwood property, but we are not yet
satisfied as to--er--the legal aspect of your claim. Till that point is
cleared up to our satisfaction, we must decline both to arrange the
mortgage or even to part with the deeds relating to the property."

Speed protested, but protested in vain. And nothing moved the iron-
faced man from his purpose; he might have been a statue for all he
heeded those threats and expostulations.

CHAPTER LI.

COLD COMFORT

In an aimless kind of way Speed stepped into the street and turned
his steps in the direction of the City. It had occurred to him almost in
the light of an inspiration that Horace Mayfield might be of use at
this juncture. Mayfield's office was full of clients; the place had an air
of prosperity. But the head of the firm looked tired and jaded as
Speed came into his private room; the fingers on his cigarette shook
terribly.

"Sit down," Mayfield said curtly, "I have been wondering what had
become of you. I have been expecting to hear about that sum of
money we spoke of. Now that you have come so easily into the
estate there can be no difficulty. The man who calls himself Ralph
Darnley evidently is not aware of his own identity."
"Oh, isn't he?" Speed sneered, "that's just where you make the
mistake. I have had no end of an eye-opener this morning, in fact,
what you might call a regular staggerer. It came from my mother. I
wish that I had taken her into my confidence from the first. But
perhaps I had better tell you all about it."

"It would perhaps be as well," Mayfield said grimly. "Go on."

Speed proceeded to tell his story. Long before he had finished

Mayfield's grey face became still more ashen and the fingers on his
cigarette trembled visibly.

"So the ship has foundered," he said. "I've got a shrewd idea as to
the game that Darnley is playing. I took that man for a fool. As a
matter of fact, he is the cleverest chap I ever came across. To be
candid, I did his father out of a lot of money. I played much the
same game with Sir George Dashwood. And it seemed to me that
Ralph Darnley was going to take it lying down. He made no face; he
took no proceedings. And then it came upon me like a thunderbolt.
At the time he was working up a case against me. He put it into the
hands of the cleverest firm of criminal lawyers in London. He
arranged such a damning lot of facts before me that I was bound to
sacrifice everything to save a prosecution. I scraped the money
together from all kinds of sources. I robbed other clients to get it. At
the moment all my speculations go wrong, of course. I'm in a
desperate hole, Speed; there isn't a man in London who is in such a
hole today. If I don't get £30,000 by Monday I shall have to bolt--
and there is no safe place to bolt to nowadays. You will have to get
me this money on mortgage."

"But I can't," Speed protested. "I went to the family lawyers just
now, and they refused to have anything to do with it. Said they were
by no means satisfied as to my legal position. They went so far as to
declare they not only decline to raise money on the estate, but they
refuse to give up the deeds."
Something like a groan came from Mayfield's lips, but his busy brain
was working all the time. He saw where the difficulty lay. With Ralph
out of the way he could, and would, crush Speed like a fly. He would
expose the impostor without mercy, and then things would revert to
the old order as they were before Ralph Darnley appeared.

An accident to Ralph Darnley! The real owner of the estate out of

the way! Properly manipulated, this might mean the recovery of that
money from Darnley's solicitors. It would at any rate mean the
return of George Dashwood to his own once more, the putting of the
screw on Mary. The idea whirled in Mayfield's mind like a dazzling
wheel. He did not dare to look at Speed; he was afraid of the tale his
eyes might tell.

"I must have time to think this over," he said. "Meanwhile, you had
better return to Dashwood as if nothing out of the common had
happened. I'll come down and dine with you tomorrow night and
stay till the morning. Then get hold of this so-called Darnley, and see
if you can pump any further information out of him. If you could
possibly induce him to dine with us so much the better. Only, if I
were you, I should not say that you had asked me. I've got a
scheme working in my mind, but it is not quite safe as yet, so we
need not discuss it."

"All right," Speed said moodily, "you are a much cleverer chap than I
am, and I shall rely on you to find some way out of the trouble.
When I think what is slipping through my fingers like this, I could
commit murder."

Speed spoke vehemently, with a voice that rasped hoarsely. Mayfield

started, to find that his thoughts and Speed's were running in such
parallel grooves. He made a gesture of impatience, indicating that he
should like to be alone. Speed lounged out, lunched freely, and, with
the courage that is born of wine, took his way to the station with a
resolve to return to Dashwood without delay.
Everything seemed just the same there; there was no suggestion
that anybody knew of the deceit which had been practised on the
old house. Even Slight appeared to be more respectful than usual,
but this was all prearranged; Ralph had travelled down by the same
train as Speed, and Slight was fresh from an interview with the man
whom he called his master. It was after tea that Speed went over to
the dower house. His heart was beating a little faster than usual; he
felt his colour come and go as Lady Dashwood came into the garden
with a basket and a pair of scissors in her hand. Her greeting was
cold and formal as usual; but Speed could not detect any change in
her manner.

"Let me hold the basket for you," he said graciously. "You are going
to get some roses?"

"Yes," Lady Dashwood replied, "I prefer to arrange my own flowers.

And I have a young friend coming to stay with me tomorrow, an
acquaintance of Mary's."

So far all was well, for the speaker did not refer to Mary as Miss
Dashwood; it was evident to Speed that he was still regarded as one
of the family. He wondered if Lady Dashwood had any idea as to his
real identity.

"I saw Mary today," he said. "She had been lodging with a woman I
know, a Mrs. Speed. She has been very unfortunate of late, and----"

"I know Mrs. Speed quite well," Lady Dashwood replied. "Her father
was a tenant on the estate many years ago. And I have heard all
about the misfortune. In fact, I was in London yesterday, and called
upon Mrs. Speed, who had written to me. What is the matter?"

"A thorn from one of the roses," Speed said in some confusion, "in
my finger."

He was staggered at the information delivered in Lady Dashwood's

quiet, level voice. Why had his mother not told him? Why had she
withheld this fact from him? Perhaps she had forgotten it in the
agitation of the startling disclosures of the morning. But Speed took
fresh heart of grace from the news. That Lady Dashwood was not
talking at him he felt certain; her voice was too matter of fact for
that.

"That's a strange thing," Speed continued to say in a fairly steady

voice. "I did not know it before. Let me get the roses for you from
the top of the tree, they are so much finer. Have you seen anything
of Ralph Darnley lately?"

"Not for a day or two," Lady Dashwood replied. "He has been in
London, but I believe that he is coming back some time today, and I
should not be surprised if he came over here later."

As a matter of fact Ralph put in an appearance before the basket of

roses was filled. If the suspicions of Speed had been rocked to sleep,
they were awakened now, when he saw the way in which Lady
Dashwood smiled at the newcomer. There was real affection in her
glance; the pressure of her hand was warm and clinging.

"So you have come back again," she said, "I have quite missed you.
And I have felt so lonely all day. Won't you take pity on me and dine
with me tonight?"

Ralph expressed his gratification at the request. There was no fault

to find with his manner towards Speed. The latter was puzzled and
worried.

"You have not dined with me yet," he said. "What do you say to
coming in tomorrow at half-past seven? Positively, I won't take a
refusal."

Ralph hesitated just for a moment. Perhaps a feeling of curiosity

moved him, for he inclined his head presently with a smile.
It was hard work to keep up appearances with this man, but it was
not going to be for much longer. Ralph had made up his mind to that
as soon as he had parted with Mary that morning.

"I shall be pleased," he said, "Lady Dashwood, won't you let me

come into the house and help to arrange those flowers? I have a
woman's weakness for that sort of thing. You should see how the
roses grow in California."

The pair walked towards the house and Speed lounged away. On the
whole he had no cause to be dissatisfied with the afternoon's work.
He was still puzzled and uneasy, but Lady Dashwood's manner had
gone a long way to reassure him. But he was frightened over Lady
Dashwood's visit to his mother. He was inclined to be bitter against
the latter because she had not told him. The problem still filled his
mind as he reached the Hall and stumbled into the dining-room. He
poured himself out a large glass of whisky and soda, and took a
cigarette from the silver box on the table. And there on the table
beside the cigarettes lay a telegram. Speed tore it open and rapidly
cast his eye over the contents:--

"Make no mistake as to Darnley tomorrow night. He must dine with

you. All arrangements made and plan complete. Wire reply
immediately.--Mayfield."

Speed chuckled to himself as he filled in the reply form. If Mayfield

had laid his plans after his own fashion then success was bound to
follow.

CHAPTER LII.
 THE SPIDER'S WEB

Speed rose next morning with a sense of his dangers and

responsibilities. He had sat up late the night before, thinking things
over to the accompaniment of much whisky and soda. Therefore, his
head was heavy and his eyes were dull as he crept down late to
breakfast. He was inclined to take the gloomiest view of the
situation; the cheerfulness of Mr. George Dashwood irritated him.

Whatever Dashwood's faults were, he did not number dissipation of

that degrading kind amongst them. He looked cheerful enough as he
sat before the open window reading the paper and smoking an
after-breakfast cigarette. He greeted Speed heartily.

"Why do you smoke here?" the latter growled. "You know I can't
stand the smell of tobacco before I've had my breakfast. Go outside
and finish it."

"All right, my dear fellow," Dashwood said politely. There was

something almost cringing in his manner. "Sorry to annoy you. Fine
morning."

The speaker appeared anxious to please. He wanted to ignore the

unpleasant feeling that Speed despised him. There was little chance
now of burning incense on the altar of family pride; Speed took care
of that. He was at no pains to conceal the fact that he regarded
Dashwood as a pensioner, dependent upon his bounty, and to be
treated accordingly. Dashwood had fallen a long way indeed when
he accepted the hospitality of his supplanter.

"What a confounded nuisance that old beggar is," he muttered,

heedless of the fact that Slight stood by the sideboard. "I shall have
to get rid of him altogether. If he had the spirit of a man he would
not stay here. And they talk of the pride of the Dashwoods. Slight,
why aren't there any curried eggs and some devilled kidneys? Am I
always to be telling you about it? What a fine thing it is to be a
pampered, lazy lout of a man-servant. What are you gaping at?"

"The eggs are under the silver cover, sir," Slight replied. "The kidneys
are here over the spirit lamp, sir. The rest of your remarks are
unnecessary, sir."

"Oh, are they? Did you behave in this insolent way in Sir Ralph's
time?"

"Sir Ralph was a gentleman, sir. He knew how to speak to his

dependents."

"Oh, did he?" Speed roared, "I suppose I don't. If I like to swear at
my confounded flunkeys I'll do it. They can take it out in extra
wages. If this kind of thing goes on we shall part, Slight."

"Very good, sir," Slight responded. "You have only to say the word.
You may be interested to hear that only last night I had great
difficulty in preventing the whole of the servants from resigning in a
body."

Speed had no more to say. He was half afraid of a quarrel to the end
with Slight. The latter knew too much. The studied insolence that
underlay his respectful manner proved that. He moved about the
room now with the air of a man who is depriving himself of the
decencies of life. He poured out the coffee in a lordly way, as if
under protest. Speed made advances towards conciliation.

"Mr. Mayfield is coming down tonight," he said, "he will dine here
and probably stay till tomorrow. Tell the housekeeper this. Mr.
Darnley will dine here also. I should like the cook to be sure of
something extra. I can leave you to see to the wines."

"Mr. Darnley dining here, sir?" Slight asked with a rising inflection of
voice. "Coming here tonight to meet that--I mean, Mr. Mayfield?"
"Well, why not? Any objection to make, Slight? Any little alteration to
suit you? You have only to mention it."

Slight muttered a hasty apology. He had come very near to betraying

himself. As he looked into Speed's bloodshot eyes he saw something
there that filled his heart with a sudden fear. For the old man knew
everything; there was not a single move in the game with which he
was not acquainted.

But Speed had forgotten all about Slight and his little slip. A small
liqueur and a cigarette put him on good terms with himself once
more. It was a beautiful day, too, with a soft breeze and brilliant
sunshine. Across the park the deer were moving in a dappled line;
the fine old gardens were looking their very best. As Speed paced up
and down the terrace one gardener and another touched their hats
to him. It filled him with a feeling of pleasure--flattered self-
importance. It was worth the risk to be the head of a place like this,
to feel that it was all his own. And only two years before he had
been the slave of the pen, the toady of a sweating employer.

Speed felt that he could never give it up again. In his heart he was a
murderer, so far as Ralph Darnley was concerned. He had read
somewhere that there were several different kinds of poisons that
left no trace behind. One of these was the virus of the cobra. No
doubt that could be obtained in London, where money could procure
anything. A drop of that, and Ralph Darnley was a dead man.
Nobody would be any the wiser, it would be assumed that he had
died of heart failure. A comparatively small outlay might procure the
poison. It would be worth while going to London to see.

In these circumstances Speed knew that he would not have

hesitated. He really could not give up the place. He had always
naturally been of extravagant, luxurious tastes, and now he was in a
position to gratify them to the full. The new West End tailor
grovelled before him; jewellers and wine and cigar merchants laid
their stocks at his feet; he had only to choose the list. If he rang the
bell a score of servants were ready to wait on him; the costliest
wines were at his disposal.

No, it would be impossible to give it up. Speed's mind kept harping

on the matter of those poisons. He must try to find out where they
could be procured. Once Ralph Darnley was out of the way, nobody
would trouble him any more. Once that event happened nobody
would dispute his claim. But then perhaps Mayfield had an idea.
Mayfield was a clever, long-headed chap, who was not disposed to
be scrupulous. On the whole, perhaps it would be as well to leave
things to Mayfield.

There would be plenty of time to discuss matters before dinner.

There was more than time as it turned out, for Mayfield arrived
unexpectedly before luncheon. He looked drawn and worried, Speed
thought, but there was a grim determination in his eye that Speed
liked. Mr. Dashwood met Mayfield in the friendliest possible manner.
If he felt any disgust towards the newcomer he disguised it very
effectively. He went off presently under a strong hint that his host
and Mayfield had some important business to discuss. He was going
as far as Longtown, he said, and should not be back before dinner.

"That's the way to get rid of him," Speed said as he lay back in his
chair, a large cigar between his lips. Slight had placed the wine on
the table and vanished. "What a useless old encumbrance he is
about the house. I shall have to get rid of him, Mayfield. When I
wrote my generous offer I hoped that Mary would come, too. Those
confounded servants want keeping in hand, and, besides, nobody
seems to care about calling here, so long as there is nothing in the
shape of a mistress about the place."

"Everybody has been wise," Mayfield said cynically. "Anyway, I am

glad you have not got rid of old Dashwood yet. He is going to be a
puppet in the play. We shall be able to make a very effective use of
him before the day is out. Nothing happened yet, no kind of move
on the part of the foe, I suppose?"
"No," Speed explained, "nothing. I saw Lady Dashwood last night.
She treated me just in the same way as usual, which is all the more
strange if she knows who I really am."

"I don't suppose for a moment that she knows who you really are,"
Mayfield said. "She may know who you are not--and that's her
grandson. But if Darnley was out of the way things would be quite
different. Nobody would worry you any longer. How did you manage
to get him to come and dine here tonight?"

"The thing worked out easily enough. I simply asked him and he
said yes. He hesitated just for a moment, and then he smiled in a
queer kind of way. But one thing you may be sure of--he would not
have come had he known that he was going to meet you."

"Perhaps not," Mayfield grinned. "Shall we dine here tonight?"

The question was put so abruptly that Speed started. He could see
that something evil was brooding in the mind of his companion.
Mayfield's eyes were taking in the arrangements of the room as a
general might survey a field of battle. There were three long
windows in the room, leading to a kind of balcony outside. In front
of one of the windows was a double screen in carved oak, which
shielded the window and made it into a kind of alcove. Mayfield
noted all this with grim satisfaction, for a smile played about the
corners of his hard mouth.

"I asked you if we dined here tonight?" he said again.

"Oh, yes. Why not? We generally dine here--it is so much more

pleasant a room than the big dining hall. Why do you ask?"

"We will come to that presently," Mayfield replied. "I take it that
those windows open to the terrace outside. Is there a seat behind
that screen? I mean a seat that one could lounge in."

"A big armchair," Speed whispered. "What are you driving at?"
 CHAPTER LIII.

THE WEB TIGHTENS

"We shall get to the point all in good time," Mayfield said
deliberately. "That screen forms a kind of cosy corner and entrance
to the terrace. If a good dinner gave you a headache, and you could
not stand the light, you might do worse than sit in the big chair and
smoke there whilst the others sat around the table. I planned it all
out coming along, with the recollection of this room in my mind. But
the geographical situation is even better than I anticipated."

"What on earth are you driving at?" Speed asked with nervous
irritation.

Mayfield laughed. There was something hard and grating in his

mirth.

"Well, I'll put it in the form of a parable if you like," he said.

"Suppose that you and I found ourselves in a very tight place. It
wants no imagination to conceive that, you say. Very well, the
situation is granted. We are in the warm corner, and the same man
is keeping us there. I need not say I am alluding to Ralph Darnley. If
I don't get him out of the way, I am a ruined man. Another few
days, and I shall have to fly the country in disgrace; I shall be
brought back and put on my trial. The result of that trial is a
foregone conclusion and society will be deprived of my presence for
some years to come. My only hope is in help of a substantial nature
from you."

"That's all right," Speed whispered hoarsely, "you shall have as much
as you like, if you will only show me the way to raise the money."

"That's precisely what I am going to do. Darnley must be got of the

way. Then you will have all the money you need. Listen to me.
Darnley dines here tonight. He will not stay late because of my
presence. When the dinner is practically finished you will plead a
headache, and go and sit in that big chair with the window open.
From time to time you will put in a remark to show that you are still
there. When Darnley rises to go I shall walk as far as the hall with
him and help him on with his coat. It may happen that he will smoke
a cigar that I shall select for him--a fresh cigar to carry him home. A
few whiffs of that cigar will make him very giddy, for my cigars are
strong. I have made arrangements for a message to come to
Darnley about half past ten saying that Lady Dashwood desires to
see him at the dower house tonight.

"Now, if my memory serves me correctly, the quickest way to the

dower house is along the terrace here. Darnley will go that way. He
will be very giddy and sleepy. You are in the alcove whilst I am
talking to old Dashwood. This is where Dashwood comes in, where
he will be a witness for me. As Darnley staggers along, you get out
on to the terrace. You happen to have a loaded stick handy. I don't
wish to suggest any connection between the two events, but it is
just possible that Darnley will be found in the park tomorrow
morning, with his head split open and his pockets empty. That would
be a fortunate accident for us."

"Yes," Speed said with chattering teeth, "it--it would. But I don't
quite----"

"Oh, the rest is quite easy. I call to you directly I fancy things are
safe, and you come into the room grumbling at the light. I only want
you to answer a question, and so prove that you have been in the
room all the time. We don't lose sight of one another after that, not
till everybody has gone to bed, when I slip out and place the body
so that it can be found to look as if robbery had been the motive.
Can you do it?"

Speed nodded without reply. The room had grown suddenly dark, for
a thunderstorm had come up from the west. There was a lurid flash
of lightning followed by a clap of thunder, and then the rain came
down in torrents. It was only a matter of ten minutes before the
light came back again. Speed nodded once more.

"All right," he whispered, "I am a fairly powerful man, and physically,

I have nothing to fear from Ralph Darnley. Besides, you say he will
not be in a condition. . . . It's a dreadful thing to think of, Mayfield,
but I can't give this up. I really couldn't go back to the old life of
drudgery again. Only please don't revert to the subject. Let us have
another glass of wine and forget all about it for the time being."

The afternoon wore on; evening came at length, and presently with
it, Ralph Darnley. He entered the big dining-room where the others
awaited him. His easy manner changed as he caught sight of
Mayfield. Just for the moment he felt a desire to walk out of the
room and leave the house. He had not expected an insult like this.
But, on the other hand, he had asked no questions; he had accepted
the invitation as much out of curiosity as anything else, and,
besides, Mary's father was there. And Ralph had been in more
questionable circumstances before now.

"I think you know Mayfield," Speed said carelessly.

"We have met on several occasions," Ralph said quietly, "we have
had business relations together. But I hardly expected the pleasure."

"Well, you have nothing to regret as far as the business relations are
concerned," Mayfield said with a laugh. "Still, it is possible to forget
all about that for the moment. My friend, Sp--I mean, Sir Vincent,
has asked me to stay here for a night. Upon my word, he is a man
to be envied! It isn't often that a place like this tumbles into a man's
lap. With most of us virtue is its own reward."

Ralph made some suitable reply. He was annoyed and angry with
himself for coming. But there was no getting out of it now; he would
have to go on till half-past ten at least. It was a relief in its way
when Slight came in with the announcement that dinner was ready.
That meal would occupy two hours at least.

There was everything set out just as it had been in the old days, and
yet there was a subtle difference. The house lacked the presence of
a mistress; it needed the refining influence of a woman. And, in his
mind's eye, Ralph saw the woman there, smiling and tender at the
head of the table, her eyes looking into his. It was worth all the
discomfort and unpleasantness of such a meal to know that the time
would not be long now. The puppets had nearly finished their parts,
and the hour for their removal was close at hand.

But the dinner dragged all the same; only Mr. Dashwood made
spasmodic efforts at keeping up the nagging conversation. He was
fitfully gay, perhaps he noted the look of displeasure in Ralph's eyes.

The cloth was removed at length and the wines sparkled red and
white under the soft, shaded lamps. Mayfield slipped out of the room
presently under pretence that he had forgotten his cigar case.
Directly he entered he turned to Ralph.

"A message has come for you," he said. "Lady Dashwood would like
to see you at the dower house on your way home. She will not
detain you long."

"In that case I must not be late," Ralph replied. He was glad of the
excuse to get away a little sooner than he had expected. "What is
the matter with our host?"
For Speed had started, the cigar fell from his fingers. The false
message was a signal to him that the tragedy had begun, and he
was expected to play his part when the time came. He placed his
hand to his head and groaned.

"A bilious headache," he said, "they give me a lot of trouble from

time to time. This one has been coming on all day. The light hurts
my eyes fearfully. If you will excuse me, I'll go and sit in the shade
behind the screen. I shall be able to hear all that is going on from
there."

Ralph murmured his sympathy. All he wanted to do now was to get

away. He was heartily sorry that he had come at all. Half an hour
slipped away, half an hour's talk about mining speculation, to which
Mr. Dashwood listened eagerly. Everything in the nature of gambling
always appealed to him.

"I am afraid I must be going," Ralph said. "It is necessary for me to

get away early if I am to see Lady Dashwood tonight."

"Don't go without a cigar," Mayfield urged as he proffered his case.

"There are no finer cigars in the world, though I say it myself. Do try
one."

Ralph held out his hand for the case. It certainly was an excellent
cigar. There was something very soothing about it. Mayfield followed
Ralph into the hall, only to return a moment later with the
information that the visitor had departed. Then came the sound of a
movement from behind the screen, followed by what might have
been a moan of pain.

"Poor chap," Mayfield said with ready sympathy. "Now let me go on,
Mr. Dashwood, and explain to you what I meant about those South
African shares. I want to prove to you what a good thing they are, if
only you have the pluck to take them and hold them."
"Provided that you've got the money," Dashwood laughed, "but, as
you are aware, I have no money; fortune has been very unkind to
me lately. Still, on the other hand--but you do not seem to be
listening to me."

"I--I beg your pardon," Mayfield stammered, "I am listening to

something outside. Let us ask Sir Vincent if his head is well enough
to offer an opinion. I say, Dashwood, would you mind coming here
for a moment. Your relation here says----"

"All right," came a little voice from behind the screen, "I'm coming.
Why can't you leave a fellow alone? I declare I'm shaking from head
to foot with cold. Let us sit here out of the draught. . . . I'm fairly
stung with the cold."

The speaker's teeth were chattering, his face was a ghastly blue
colour. And, for a long time afterwards, nobody spoke besides Mr.
George Dashwood!

CHAPTER LIV.

"EYES CLEARER GROWN--"

"I'm glad she's gone," Connie exclaimed as the cab drove away and
the last flutter of Grace's handkerchief had vanished. "Let us hope
she will have a happy time with Lady Dashwood. But why didn't your
dear relative fetch her as arranged? Why that telegram? I hope
there is nothing wrong at the dower house?"

"Of course there is nothing wrong," Mary laughed. "It is not like you
to imagine things. What is the matter with you this morning,
Connie?"

Connie remarked tearfully that she did not know. For once in a way
she was on the verge of tears. Perhaps she missed Grace, for her
manner had changed, directly the cab was gone.

"Now I am going to know all about it," said Mary. "You are the
dearest friend I have ever made as yet, and it hurts me for you to
keep a secret from me."

"What a change!" Connie said, a smile flashing through her tears.

"What has become of the cold, reserved girl that I met some days
ago at Victoria Station? Well, I'll tell you what is the matter. You
know that I lost those sketches the night Mrs. Speed went away and
left us in the lurch. They were badly needed, and I could not supply
them. They had to fake up some old blocks and it caused no end of
trouble. The long and short of it is that last night I had a curt
intimation that I need not expect to get any more work for the
Wheezer. It means that my poor little weekly income has vanished
for the present. It's very hard just at a time when----"

"Oh, my dear," Mary cried, "how dreadful! And this is why you kept
up before----"

"Before Grace. I could not possibly tell her, it would have been
hateful to spoil her pleasure like that. But it has been hard work,
Mary. Two or three times today I have had to struggle to keep from
positive blubbering. I hate to snivel, but I suppose we are all prone
to that at times. What to do I don't know."

Mary looked up from the packs of postcards she was engaged upon.
"Please don't worry," she said, "it isn't as if we were penniless. I am
certain that you will get something to do before long."

"My dear girl, don't forget that the rent and the bread and butter go
on just the same. And don't forget either that whilst the grass grows
the steed starves."

"Not when the other steed has plenty of oats to spare," Mary
laughed. "What do you think of that for an epigram? If painting fails,
I shall take to literature. I'm quite sure that I shall be as good an
author as an artist. Don't think me hard or unsympathetic, Connie. I
know how good you are, I know that you would cheerfully share
your last shilling with me, little as I deserve it. And I am going to do
the same by you. I have some three pounds left of the money I
borrowed from that convenient relative at the pawnshop, and I
calculate that I can raise quite two hundred pounds altogether.
Within a short time you will find fresh work to do."

Connie's tears were falling freely now. The burst of grief seemed to
do her good, for the sunny April smile flashed out again.

"You shall do as you like, dearest," she said. "Pride is a very sinful
luxury for people in my position. And I had forgotten all about that
Pandora's box of yours. It is just possible that on the strength of my
Wheezer work I may get a commission from the Honeysuckle
Weekly. I believe they pay a slightly better price than the other
papers. Let us have an early lunch, and then I can go the round of
the offices. Don't worry if I am back late. And you can have a good
long afternoon at the postcards."

Mary had a long afternoon at the postcards indeed, for tea had been
a thing of the past for some time, and as yet Connie had not
returned. Her head was aching now and her hands were stiff with
the toil. How hot and stifling it was, how different to the coolness of
the dower house. And Grace was there by this time, doubtless.
Mary's day-dreams vanished suddenly at the sound of a cab outside.
Connie stepped out of the cab, followed by a tall, manly figure in a
frock coat. From his quiet air and manner Mary put the stranger
down at once as a doctor. She had little time to speculate as to that,
for she saw to her distress that Connie's hat was off and that her
head was bandaged up with a handkerchief. She staggered as she
reached the pavement, and would have fallen but for the man by
her side. Mary flew to the door with words of quick sympathy on her
lips. She could see a curious tender smile on Connie's lips; her face
was red; her eyes were shining with some great happiness.

"Not much the matter," she said. "I got jumbled up in the Strand,
and the side-slipping of a motor threw me under a dray. The wheels
did not go over me, and I have not come home to die or anything of
that kind. I got a blow on the head, and I suppose I fainted. When I
came to myself I was in Charing Cross Hospital. Dr. Newcome was
very kind to me, and insisted on seeing me home in a cab. Strange
as it may seem, Dr. Newcome is an old acquaintance of mine, Mary.
This is Miss Dashwood."

"I am very happy to see you," the doctor said in a pleasant voice. "I
am also glad to say that there is very little the matter with Miss
Colam. I am almost glad of the accident because it has brought Miss
Colam and myself in contact once more. I met her two years ago at
Hastings, when I was getting over a bad illness."

"Then Dr. Newcome is your doctor, Connie," Mary cried.

Connie flushed to her eyes. The stranger dropped his Evening

Standard on the table and affected to fold it neatly.

"I wish I could think so," he said. "We only met for a day. Dreadfully
unconventional, was it not? But I was very lonely at that time and
very ill. My outlook was rather gloomy, too. But I wanted to see Miss
Colam again, and when I got back to London I called at her rooms
only to find her gone. I hope she will believe me when I say that I
have been looking for her ever since."

"The fortune of war," Connie said with a red face. "Nomads like
ourselves are always changing quarters. And here I am just as poor
as I was that day at Fairlight. I hope you can say more for your
prospects, Dr. Newcome?"

"I have been very fortunate," Newcome said gravely. "A distant
relative died and left me some money. The money arrived just in
time to enable me to buy an exceedingly good practice. I was calling
on a house surgeon friend of mine at Charing Cross, when Miss
Colam came in. And I do hope she won't change her lodgings again
without letting me know."

There was no mistaking the significance of the last few words.

Clearly Connie had found the haven of rest for which her tired soul
at times longed for. Mary remembered what she had said as to the
man to cling to for protection in the hour of need, and what a
blessed thing the man's love was for the lonely and depressed. In
her mind's eye Mary could see herself alone in those dingy lodgings,
painting her postcards and waiting for, what? It was, perhaps natural
that the figure of Ralph Darnley should rise before her now.

"I won't," Connie promised. "You will come and see me again, Dr.
Newcome?"

Newcome promised eagerly. He would be in town again in a day or

two. Would the girls dine with him, and go to the theatre
afterwards? He had an aunt in London, who he was sure would join
the party. He would ask her to call on Connie.

"So this is an end of your trouble," Mary laughed, when Newcome

had departed. "It is quite plain to me that you will very soon have
the share of that practice at your disposal, dear. And if the happy
expression of your face means anything, it tells me that you are not
going to refuse the offer."