“Everything intact,” he whispered; “not a sign of its having been tampered with. It was certainly very warm yesterday, but--damme!” he screamed, “it must have been the ghost of that hot-tempered devil Lerroux himself!” CHAPTER VIII. THE QUEST OF THE RED-MOROCCO HANDBAG “_A Young lady asks immediate assistance from some benevolent capitalist to enable her to recover property of considerable value. Address D. L._ 078542 _Daily Post._” Gilead looked up from a perusal of the above advertisement with a twinkle in his eye. “A young lady again?” said he. “Upon my word I don’t know if I dare to risk the bait a second time.” “You mean the implied invitation?” answered Miss Halifax, with a smile. “I mustn’t venture to advise, Mr Balm. Your judgments put us all to shame.” “That’s just it,” he said. “I don’t want to spoil the reputation I made over that Marble Statuette affair. Supposing we divide the responsibility, and invite the advertiser to an interview, at which we will both be present, in this room? We can form our independent opinions, then, and act upon them as each thinks fit. If we differ, the result shall justify the better. Do you agree?” “O! yes, indeed,” said Miss Halifax. “Nothing could please me more.” She meant it sincerely, and was gratified by the compromise from every point of view. The glow of pleasure was in the face she raised to Herbert Nestle, who came in at that moment with some correspondence for her. Gilead bent to his desk with a conscious smile. He fancied--recently enlightened as he supposed himself to be--that he could frequently now detect an interchange, between the secretary and amanuensis, of looks of a particular meaning and intelligence. Signs of a closer familiarity in their intercourse than he had hitherto observed often occurred to him, and he had to put force upon himself to avoid the appearance of watching for them. He only awaited, indeed, some definite confirmation of his suspicions, to bestow his official blessing upon the pair. He was prepared to do it, and anxious to end a somewhat invidious situation; yet it was a fact that, reason with himself as he might about the ideal nature of the union, the prospect of it always made him feel a little lonely and outcast. Now, having answered the advertisement as arranged, he dismissed the matter from his mind. He was engaged the next morning with Miss Halifax over divers matters of moment, when Nestle brought him a message that his correspondent had answered his letter in person, and was soliciting an interview. He carried with him a card, on which was engraved the name of Miss Daisy Limner, and, being instructed, in a few moments ushered in the lady herself, whom he left with his principal and the amanuensis.