She brought up my dinner and tea, without a single word, but with many sly glances at me from her quick grey eyes. Once or twice she was at the point of speaking, and the dry smile she always spoke with fluttered upon her face; but she closed her lips firmly and even bit them to keep herself in. I could scarcely help laughing, for I liked the odd little thing; but she was so free with her tongue, that the lesson was sadly wanted. Late in the evening, she came to say that Inspector Cutting was there, and would come up if I wished it. Upon my request he came, and one look was enough to show that his niece had not misdescribed him. An elderly man, but active looking and wiry, with nothing remarkable in his features, except the clear cast of his forehead and the firm set of his mouth. But the quick intelligence that shot from his eyes made it seem waste of time to finish telling him anything. For this reason, polite though he was, it became unpleasant to talk to him. It was something like shooting at divers--as my father used to describe it--for whom the flash of the gun is enough. Yet he never once stopped or hurried me, until my tale was done, and all my thoughts laid bare. Then he asked to see all my relics and vestiges of the deed; even my gordit did not escape him. "L.D.O." he said shortly, "do you speak Italian?’ "I can read it, but not speak it." "Is it commoner for Italian surnames to begin with an O, or with a C?" "There are plenty beginning with both; but more I should think with a C." When all my particulars had been told, and all my evidence shown, I asked with breathless interest--for my confidence in him grew fast--what his opinion was. "Allow me, young lady, to put a few questions to you, on matters you have not mentioned. Forgive me, if they pain you. I believe you feel that they will not be impertinent." I promised to answer without reserve. "What was your mother’s personal appearance?" "Most winning and delicate." "How old was she at the time of her marriage?" "Twenty-one, I believe." "How old was your father then?" "Twenty-five." "How many years were they married?" "Sixteen, exactly." "When did your guardian first leave England?" "In the course of a year or two after the marriage." "Had there been any misunderstanding between him and your father?" "None, that I ever heard of." "Did your father, at any time, travel on the continent?" "Only in Switzerland, and part of Italy, during his wedding tour." "Your guardian returned, I believe, at intervals to England?" I had never told him this. "Yes. At least I suppose so, or he would not have been in London." "Did he visit then at Vaughan Park?" "Not once within my memory." "Thank you. I will ask no more. It is a strange story; but I have known several much more strange. Of one thing be assured. I shall catch the criminal. I need not tell you that I heard much of this case at the time." "Were you sent down to Gloucestershire?"