Her appearance, for some reason inexplicable to the barrister himself, took him by surprise. She was tall, graceful, extremely good-looking, and dressed in a style of quiet elegance. Just the sort of woman one would expect to find in such a well-appointed abode, yet more refined in manner than Bruce, from his knowledge of the world, thought he would meet, judging by the hasty inferences drawn from his subordinate's report. She was self-possessed, too. With calm tone, and slightly elevated eyebrows, she said: "You wish to see me, I understand?" "Yes. Allow me first to apologize for the hour at which I have called." "No apology is necessary. But I am going out. Perhaps you will be good enough not to detain me longer than is absolutely necessary." She stood between the table and the door. Bruce, who had risen at her entrance, was at the other side of the room. Her words, no less than her attitude, showed that she desired the interview to be brief. But the barrister resolved that he would not be repelled so coolly. Advancing, with a bow and that fascinating smile of his, he said, pulling forward a chair: "Won't you be seated?" The lady looked at him. She saw a man of fine physique and undoubted good breeding. She hesitated. There was no reason to be rude to him, so she sat down. Claude drew a chair to the other side of the hearthrug, and commenced: "I have ventured to seek this interview for the purpose of making some inquiries." "I thought so. Are you a policeman?" The words were blurted out impetuously, a trifle complainingly, but Bruce gave no sign of the interest they had for him. "Good gracious, no," he cried. "Why should you think that?" "Because two detectives have been bothering me, and every other person in these mansions, about some mysterious lady who called here two months ago. They don't know where she called, nor will they state her name; as if any one could possibly know anything about it. So I naturally thought you were on the same errand." "Confound that rascal White," growled he to himself. But Mrs. Hillmer went on: "If that is not your business, would you mind telling me what it is?" Now Bruce's alert brain had been actively engaged during the last few seconds. This woman was not the clever, specious adventuress he had half expected to meet. It seemed more than ever unlikely that she could have any knowledge of Lady Dyke or the causes that led to her disappearance. He was tempted to frame some excuse and take his departure. But the certainty that his missing friend had visited Raleigh Mansions, and the necessity there was for exploiting every line of inquiry, impelled him to adopt this last resource. "It is not concerning a missing lady, but concerning a missing gentleman that I have come to see you." The shot went home. Why, for the life of him, he could not tell, but his companion was manifestly disturbed at his words. "Oh," she said. Then, after a little pause: "May I ask his name?"