Lightly casual as he chose to make the words sound, they were an audacity he would have known better than to allow himself with any one but a timid early-Victorian spinster whose politeness was hypersensitive in its quality. “He particularly desired that I should not be anxious,” she said. “He is always considerate.” “He would, of course, have explained everything if he had not been so hurried?” “Of course, if it had been necessary,” answered Miss Alicia, nervously sipping her tea. “Naturally,” said Captain Palliser. “His note no doubt mentioned that he went away on business connected with his friend Mr. Strangeways?” There was no question of the fact that she was startled. “He had not time enough,” she said. “He could only write a few lines. Mr. Strangeways?” “We had a long talk about him last night. He told me a remarkable story,” Captain Palliser went on. “I suppose you are quite familiar with all the details of it?” “I know how he found him in New York, and I know how generous he has been to him.” “Have you been told nothing more?” “There was nothing more to tell. If there was anything, I am sure he had some good reason for not telling me,” said Miss Alicia, loyally. “His reasons are always good.” Palliser's air of losing a shade or so of discretion as a result of astonishment was really well done. “Do you mean to say that he has not even hinted that ever since he arrived at Temple Barholm he has strongly suspected Strangeways' identity--that he has even known who he is?” he exclaimed. Miss Alicia's small hands clung to the table-cloth. “He has not known at all. He has been most anxious to discover. He has used every endeavor,” she brought out with some difficulty. “You say he has been trying to find out?” Palliser interposed. “He has been more than anxious,” she protested. “He has been to London again and again; he has gone to great expense; he has even seen people from Scotland Yard. I have sometimes almost thought he was assuming more responsibility than was just to himself. In the case of a relative or an old friend, but for an entire stranger--Oh, really, I ought not to seem to criticize. I do not presume to criticize his wonderful generosity and determination and goodness. No one should presume to question him.” “If he knows that you feel like this--” Palliser began. “He knows all that I feel,” Miss Alicia took him up with a pretty, rising spirit. “He knows that I am full of unspeakable gratitude to him for his beautiful kindness to me; he knows that I admire and respect and love him in a way I could never express, and that I would do anything in the world he could wish me to do.” “Naturally,” said Captain Palliser. “I was only about to express my surprise that since he is aware of all this he has not told you who he has proved Strangeways to be. It is a little odd, you know.”