He had already dined, so, after reading Harriet’s note, he settled himself in the library to the enjoyment of a cigar. It was a point of pride with him, that once his day’s work was done, he could completely banish its cares from his thoughts; and he had a hearty contempt for all the amusements in which weaker spirits are wont to seek that diversion, which with him was simply a matter of will. But to-night, after an uneasy ten minutes, he took up “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and tried to read. Half an hour later the library door was flung open without ceremony, and Harriet’s maid spoke his name. “What is it?” he asked. “Mrs. Sponley--” the girl began, but there her excitement and fright choked her. “What is it?” he repeated. “Here, stop that nonsense and tell me.” “She’s gone,” at length she managed to say. “She isn’t in her room, and she isn’t anywhere. She’s gone.” What a mask that thick, swarthy face could be! Now it changed not at all, save that the eyes grew narrower and he frowned impatiently. “What you say would be very interesting if I did not know it already. Mrs. Sponley is at Mrs. Bagsbury’s. She left me a note saying that she meant to spend the evening there. Don’t be so hasty in your conclusions another time.” He nodded in the direction of the door and turned back to his book. Before the maid was fairly out of the room it occurred to him that the explanation he had given her was probably true, after all. He went quickly to the telephone. Then, suddenly changing his mind, he rang for a cab. “Drive to the elevated as fast as you can,” he ordered shortly. “I’m in a hurry.” For all his efforts it seemed to the Bear an interminable while before he reached John Bagsbury’s house, and in that time his thoughts were grim indeed; but just as he was about to go up the steps he paused suddenly and smiled, as though just possessed of an idea that pleased him. He glanced at his watch and nodded with a satisfied air, then he rang the bell. He found Alice in the library, and the perfectly easy way in which she greeted him convinced him that she knew as little of the lard deal and its collateral incidents as though it were taking place in some cannibal island.