"Sabina," she said at length, in her smoothest tones, "I will take you into my confidence--I know you can be trusted. Of course it would be a great blow to me if my brother married an actress--a girl whom one knows nothing at all about; besides, he is almost engaged to my husband's niece, Miss Vane." She did not add that she had been subtly opposing this engagement by all the means in her power for the last few weeks. "We must try to break off the connection as soon as we can. The more we know about this Miss West's past life the better. I will go to the Frivolity myself, and see whether I can learn anything about it there. And, Sabina----" "Yes, ma'am," said the woman, as Mrs. Vane paused. "That mass of white hair, Sabina--do you think it looks quite natural?" "Mr. Dare, you mean, ma'am? No, I don't; I believe it's a wig. I've seen it quite on one side." "Couldn't you find out, Sabina?" "Well, I don't see how," said Sabina slowly. "I've never seen him without it. One night there was an alarm of fire, and everybody rushed to their doors, and Mr. Dare came too; but his hair and his beard and everything was just the same as usual. Still I'm sure I've seen it a little on one side." "You provide his food here, do you not? Do you ever help your aunt?" "Sometimes, ma'am. I take in his tea and all that, you know. We're by way of being very friendly, Mr. Dare and me." "Sabina, if you had the stuff, could you not quietly put something into his tea which would make him sleep for an hour or two? And, when he was asleep, could you not find out what I want to know?" Sabina was silent for a moment. "What should I get for it?" she said at last. "It's always a risk to run." "Twenty pounds," said Flossy promptly. "There is very little risk." "And where should I get the stuff?" "I--I have it with me," said Mrs. Vane. Sabina, who had been standing, suddenly sat down and burst out laughing. "Well, you are a deep one," she said, when her laughter was ended, and she observed that Mrs. Vane was regarding her rather angrily; "if you'll excuse me for saying so, ma'am, but you are the very deepest one I ever came across! And you don't look it one bit!" "I suppose you mean both of these assertions for compliments," said Flossy. "If so you need not trouble to make them again. This is a business matter. Will you undertake it, or will you not?" "When?" "To-night." "To-night! When he comes in to tea? Well, is it safe?" "You mean the drug? Perfectly safe. He will never know that he has had it. It will keep him sound asleep for a couple of hours at least. During that time I do not think that thunder itself would wake him." "You've tried it before, I'll warrant?" said Sabina half questioningly, half admiringly.