The detective liked him better for it, and there was something about the other’s face quite attractive after all. Somehow Eric did not seem to hate and despise him as he had done before. When the artist had gone he fell into a fit of musing again. Various theories were built up, only to be discarded again as unequal to the occasion. He remembered that the letter had been given to Prescott by a woman, who was evidently in the pay of the party signed L. Whom could Lillian send? He did not know the internal arrangements of the lovely little house up town, and this was what was now on his mind. The office of Joe Leslie was his destination, and he made his way thither after leaving the elevated road. Leslie was in John Street, and carried on a business in precious stones, of which he was one of the best judges in the city. He was a man of considerable wealth, but being of an unostentatious nature he did not put on much style, preferring to live quietly and well. When Eric Darrell ascended the stairs of the large building in which his friend had his offices, he was forcibly reminded of times gone by when Joe was a bachelor, and the two had been warm friends, passing through numerous scenes of pleasure in company. CHAPTER XV COMPARING NOTES Joe was in. When the detective sent his card by the same clerk whom he had helped Joe rescue from the clutches of the gamblers, he was shown to the private office. Here he found his friend seated at his desk, and busily engaged with a pile of letters that had come in the morning mail. Joe greeted him cordially and begged him to wait a few minutes, when he would be through with his task. This suited the detective exactly, since it gave him a chance to watch the other. He was able to read a face pretty thoroughly and he saw very quickly that Joe was still greatly troubled in his mind. He had gotten rid of one burden, but another had come in its stead. What could it mean? There was little need for Eric to ask that. He knew, beyond all doubt, that the old suspicions had arisen again in Joe’s mind, perhaps strengthened by some circumstance. Finally Joe leaned back in his chair and looked at his visitor. “Eric, for a short time last night I was really and truly happy—it seemed to me that the clouds had all rolled by. Then, by a strange circumstance, they were brought forward again and now I am worse off than ever.” “That is too bad—I am sorry for it.” “Before, it was my foolish habit that gave me sorrow—now it is a dreadful thought that I endeavor to banish from my mind, but which rises up again and again in all its hideous deformity until I almost feel as though I am mad. “Still I keep my thoughts clear, for I know that this awful question must be grappled with, and fought to the death. “My whole future is concerned in it, and I mean to lay the ghost forever, or else know the very worst.”