Without a minute's delay he ran out in search of a cab, and was driven to High Street. Here, of course, he found the shop closed, but it was much too early for the household to have retired to rest; risking an indiscretion, he was about to ring the house bell when the door opened, and Patty showed herself. "Oh, is it _you_, Mr. Hilliard!" she exclaimed, in a flurried voice. "I heard the cab stop, and I thought it might be----You'd better come in--quick!" He followed her along the passage and into the shop, where one gas-jet was burning low. "Listen!" she resumed, whispering hurriedly. "If Eve comes--she'll let herself in with the latchkey--you must stand quiet here. I shall turn out the gas, and I'll let you out after she's gone upstairs? Couldn't you come before?" Hilliard explained, and begged her to tell him what was the matter. But Patty kept him in suspense. "Uncle won't be in till after twelve, so there's no fear. Aunt has gone to bed--she's upset with quarrelling about this marriage. Mind! You won't stir if Eve comes in. Don't talk loud; I must keep listening for the door." "But what is it? Where is Eve?" "I don't know. She didn't come home till very late last night, and I don't know where she was. You remember what you asked me to promise?" "To let me know if you were anxious about her." "Yes, and I am. She's in danger I only hope----" "What?" "I don't like to tell you all I know. It doesn't seem right. But I'm so afraid for Eve." "I can only imagine one kind of danger----" "Yes--of course, it's that--you know what I mean. But there's more than you could fancy." "Tell me, then, what has alarmed you?" "When did you see her last?" Patty inquired. "More than a week ago. Two or three days before I came here." "Had you noticed anything?" "Nothing unusual." "No more did I, till last Monday night. Then I saw that something was wrong. Hush!" She gripped his arm, and they listened. But no sound could be heard. "And since then," Patty pursued, with tremulous eagerness, "she's been very queer. I know she doesn't sleep at night, and she's getting ill, and she's had letters from--someone she oughtn't to have anything to do with." "Having told so much, you had better tell me all," said Hilliard impatiently. There was a cold sweat on his forehead, and his heart beat painfully. "No. I can't. I can only give you a warning." "But what's the use of that? What can I do? How can I interfere?" "I don't know," replied the girl, with a helpless sigh. "She's in danger, that's all I call tell you." "Patty, don't be a fool! Out with it! Who is the man? Is it some one you know?" "I don't exactly know him I've seen him." "Is he--a sort of gentleman?" "Oh, yes, he's a gentleman. And you'd never think to look at him that he could do anything that wasn't right." "Very well. What reason have you for supposing that he's doing wrong?"