"But why not at least have written to Sir Charles, telling him of your intentions?" The fair Marie was silent for a moment. The question confused her. "I hardly know," she replied. "Will you write to him now?" "I don't see why I should." "Indeed. Not even when it was you who gave some of your mistress's underclothing to Mr. White, by which means he was able to identify the body found at Putney as that of Lady Dyke?" "Mr. White told you that, did he?" "He did." "Then you had better get him to give you all further information, Mr. Bruce, as not another word will you get out of me." She bounced up, fiery red, pluming herself for the fray. "Will you not communicate with Sir Charles?" he said, utterly baffled by Miss le Marchant's uncompromising attitude. "Perhaps I will and perhaps I won't. Mr. White, indeed!" And she ran off to join her friends. The barrister drove quietly homewards. This was his summary of the evening's events: "I have found two women. When I know all about them I shall be able to lay my hand on the person who killed Lady Dyke." CHAPTER VII IN THE CITY Messrs. Dodge & Co., of Leadenhall Street, possessed business premises of greater pretensions than Bruce had pictured to himself from Mrs. Hillmer's description of their transactions with her brother. Not only were their offices commodious and well situated, but a liberal display of gold lettering, intermingled with official brass plates marking the registering offices of many companies, gave evidence of some degree of importance--whether fictitious or otherwise Bruce could not determine, as he scrutinized the exterior of the building on the following morning. Moreover, workmen were even then busy in substituting the title "Dodge, Son & Co., Ltd.," for "Messrs. Dodge & Company," the suggestive nature of the latter designation having perhaps proved a stumbling-block in the way of the guileless investor. When the barrister entered the office, a busy place, a hive of many clerks, and adorned with gigantic maps of the Rand, West Australia, Cripple Creek, and Klondike, he asked for "Mr. Dodge." His card procured him ready admission. He was shown into an elaborately upholstered apartment of considerable size. At the farther end, seated in front of a gorgeous American desk, was a young man who ostentatiously finished a letter and then motioned the barrister to a seat. Bruce was curious on the question of the age of the head of the firm. "Are you Mr. Dodge, or the son?" he said, with the utmost gravity. The other was taken back by this unexpected method of opening the conversation. It annoyed him. "I am the representative of the firm, sir, and fully able to deal with your business, whatever it may be," he replied. "No doubt. But it will simplify matters if I know exactly to whom I am addressing myself."