What the effect upon him would be of the failure of the scheme was of course very difficult to say. But it was not of much consequence unless he had already got Miralda away and I should know that as soon as I saw Inez herself. The lie which had been told about my having carried Miralda away was intended merely to blind her mother’s eyes. It offered a plausible reason for Miralda’s absence. As I drove to Inez’ house I told Bryant to wait for me, but not to remain in the carriage, as I did not wish him to be seen; and as soon as the servant opened the door, I pushed my way in, lest Inez should refuse to see me. She did make the attempt. In reply to my message, she sent word that she was unable to see me then, but would do so an hour later. “Then I will wait,” I told the servant; and down I sat in the hall. Inez’ unwillingness to face me confirmed my opinion that Miralda was in the house; and nothing short of force would have made me leave. After perhaps a quarter of an hour the servant came with another message--her mistress would receive me in a few minutes. She was leading the way upstairs when I stopped her, saying bluntly I preferred to remain where I was until the contesse was quite ready. I did not intend to give Inez a chance of smuggling Miralda out of the house while I was cooling my heels shut up in a room upstairs. Whether or not any attempt of the sort had been planned, I do not know; but while I was close to the door and had a full view of the staircase it was impracticable. Another delay followed, and then the servant said Inez was waiting for me; and she herself appeared at the top of the stairs, cool, smiling, and apologetic. “I am so sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Donnington,” she said as she gave me her hand, and led the way into an adjoining room; “but your call at this unusual hour found me quite unprepared to come to you.” “It is not a conventional purpose which has brought me, madame,” I replied as she settled herself gracefully upon a couch. “No? Ah, well, I am grateful to any purpose which leads you to find your way at last to my house,” she said with another smile. I was in no mood for this kind of thing; so I said rather bluntly: “My purpose is to see Mademoiselle Dominguez.” Her start and look and gesture of extreme surprise were well acted. “My dear Mr. Donnington! Miralda?” “Yes, certainly.” “But----” she paused, and then those strange eyes of hers expressed perplexity and trouble and rising alarm. “I am afraid I--I don’t understand.” “Yet my words were very simple. I wish to see Mademoiselle Dominguez.” “I heard that, of course. But is it possible, you believe she is here? Do you mean you do not know what has occurred? You find out so many things, you know,” she added with a quick thrust.