"You were at the church," I asked, "when you heard that Miss Lawrence had disappeared?" "Yes," he answered hoarsely. "Royce brought me word." "And you came straight here?" "Yes." "And searched for her?" "Where could I search? I was utterly at sea. I--I don't remember just what I did at first." "But you didn't search the house nor the grounds?" "Why should I have done that when Mrs. Lawrence had already done it thoroughly?" he demanded. "True," I assented. After all, I had no right to shake his faith in her upon a mere suspicion. "I was overwhelmed," he added. "I was too dazed to think. Royce said he'd wire for you. I'm glad he did, for I'm utterly unable to decide what to do. I should like you to advise me." "Well, Mr. Curtiss," I said, "there's plainly only one thing to be done--that is, to find Miss Lawrence and demand an explanation from her own lips. Whether or not this is the wisest course, may be open to question--but if I were in your place, I think I'd do just as you are doing and take the risk." "But to find her--how can I do that? I can't set a detective on her track." "No, of course not," I agreed; "but I think we can get along without a detective." "We must. Detectives talk too much, and this thing mustn't get into the papers." "I don't see how you can prevent that. It was to have been a church wedding, wasn't it?" "Yes; a church wedding." "With an invited list of guests?" "Certainly." "And they were present at the church, weren't they?" Curtiss groaned and I saw the perspiration start out across his forehead. "Present!" echoed Mr. Royce. "I should say they were--the church was crowded. And we were waiting there in the minister's study, worrying because it was so late, when word came----" "Don't!" protested Curtiss, with a despairing gesture. "I'd never thought of that. I've been thinking only of myself. Of course the papers will have it!" and he groaned again. "Well, there's no use worrying about it," interposed Mr. Royce. "What is done is done. The thing is to find Miss Lawrence, and if anybody can find her, Lester can. I'm sure that five minutes' talk with her will straighten out the whole tangle. There's been an absurd mistake of some sort." "No doubt," I assented, though in my heart I did doubt it very much. At any rate, the five minutes' talk could do no harm. "Now you go away somewhere for a day or two, and leave this thing in our hands," added our junior. "What you need is rest. Don't worry any more than you can help. Let us know where you are, and we'll wire you as soon as we have any information. That's good advice, isn't it, Lester?" "Very good," I said. "I hope Mr. Curtiss will follow it." "No, no," he protested. "I can't go away--I must stay here--I couldn't stand it to go away." "May I speak to you frankly, Mr. Curtiss?" I asked quietly. "Please do," he said. "Speak as frankly as you like."