‘Yes, I think he is a person I know. And pray what inquiries did he make about the house?’ ‘More than I can remember,’ answered the agent; ‘there never was such a gentleman for asking questions, and so business-like too. He made me take a sheet of paper and sketch him out a plan of the house in pencil—how all the rooms lay, and the passages and stairs, and so on. That’s how we came to speak of the private staircase. He seemed quite taken aback by the notion. It might be handy, he said, and work into something that he wanted.’ ‘What motive did he state for these inquiries?’ ‘They were made with a view to making an offer for the property, which I had reason to think my clients, the Miss Chadwicks, would be not unwilling to part with. The gentleman is trying to get a patent for an invention of his, which will make his fortune when carried out, he says, and he wants good roomy premises within an easy distance of the docks. A thorough man of business, I can assure you, though only just returned from abroad,’ added Mr. Agar, as if England were the only country in which business was properly understood. ‘Has this gentleman made any attempt to forward the transaction?’ asked Lucius. ‘Have you ever seen him since the day when he treated you to champagne?’ ‘Treated is hardly the word, sir!’ said Mr. Agar with dignity. ‘The gentleman _stood_ a bottle of Peerer Jewitt. It was as much for his pleasure as for mine.’ ‘I have no doubt of that, Mr. Agar. But have you seen any more of this agreeable gentleman?’ ‘No, sir, he hasn’t been in here since. I fancy there’s some difficulty about the patent. It isn’t easy to hurry things where you’ve got to deal with Government offices. But I expect to hear from him before very long. He was quite the gentleman.’ ‘I doubt if you will ever see him again, Mr. Agar, gentleman or not; if he be the man I take him for.’ ‘Indeed, sir. Do you know anything to the gentleman’s disadvantage?’ ‘Only that he is a most consummate villain.’ ‘Good gracious me, sir. That’s a sweeping charge.’ ‘It is, Mr. Agar; and I am unable just now to substantiate it. I can only thank you for the information you have kindly given me, and wish you good-morning.’ He left the little office, glad to be in the open air again to have room to breathe, and to be able to contemplate this new aspect of affairs alone. ‘He is here then, and henceforward it must be a hand-to-hand fight between us two.’ CHAPTER XIX. LUCILLE’S CONFESSION.