“What sort of questions?” Ada said smiling, and hoping that at last they were going to receive news of their father. “Where you worked, and how you went to work, and if we were your only sisters. He was quite a nice sort of man.” “A gentleman, I think,” Sadie said with a great air of worldly wisdom. “He said he would call again after dinner to-night.” “Did he not tell you what he wanted,” Ada asked. “No,” Marjory said, “and it was only after he had gone that we found out how much we had told him, all about mother, and everything. Do you mind, Ada?” “No,” Ada replied; “but try in future, Marjory, to remember that you are getting too big a girl to talk to strange gentlemen in that confidential way.” * * * * * After dinner that night the Irish servant toiled up to the top of the high house to tell Ada Nicoli that there was a strange gentleman waiting to see her down below. “And sure and I can’t think why you want to come up to this attic in the evenin’, instead of joining with the company in the parlour. It would save my poor legs toiling up to tell you when your friends arrive.” “It’s the first time anyone has come to see me, Bridget,” Ada answered, “and I like having the children with me in the evening.” Ada might more truthfully have remarked that she did not wish her little sisters to enjoy the company of the young business men who frequented the boarding-house parlour in the evening. When she entered the parlour, a keen-looking elderly man rose from his seat and bowed to her. “Have I the pleasure of addressing Miss Ada Nicoli?” Ada bowed. “I am Mr. Riggs.” He looked round the room. “Have you any place where I could talk to you in private, ma’am?” Ada grew nervous from fear of some bad news, but she had learnt to control her feelings before the curious eyes of the boarders. “I have no private sitting-room,” she said, “but perhaps I might take you into the bureau.” “Thank you, ma’am, I will not detain you long.” When they were seated in the bureau, which the lady of the house had willingly vacated on hearing Ada’s reason, he said, “I have come to tell you a piece of news which I think will greatly astonish you. I came here this morning and learnt the information from your little sisters which identifies you in my mind with the young lady I was seeking.” Ada was turning from hot to cold and her hands were tightly clasped together. “My dear young lady,” he continued, “I am Mr. Riggs of the firm of Jefferson Riggs & Co., lawyers, No. 10054, Broadway. Perhaps you have read in the papers of the death of an eccentric old gentleman who was a well-known figure in the Fifth stage-coach, and in Madison Square Gardens?” Ada nodded her head. Her heart was beating too quickly to allow her brain to seize the points of the lawyer’s story.