"Well, surely that is kindly said," she answered. "Forgive me, will you, if I seem unreasonable? Perhaps you do not know what grief is. I will tell you that it is against my will that the flat has been let. My mother's doing; she insisted because she suspected that I had a tendency to--be drawn toward the spot; she feared that I might--go there; and so it was let. But it is useless, I suppose, for you to give it up. They would only let it to some one else. And whoever was in it, I should have the same suspicions--" That word! "Suspicions of what?" asked David. "I am so much in the dark as to what you mean! If you would explain yourself, then I might be able to help you. Will you let me help you?" "God knows what the truth is," she said despondently, staring downward afresh, for, when David looked at her, her eyes fell. "They are all kind enough at first, no doubt, and their kindness ends here, where the grass grows, and the winds moan all night, Gwen. I do not know who or what you are, sir," she added, with that puzzling sharpness, "or what your motive may be; but--what have you done with my sister's papers?" "Papers?" said David. "You surprise me. Are there any papers of your sister's in the flat?" She looked keenly at him, with eyelids lowered, seeking to read his mind as though it was an open book. "Who knows?" said she. He recalled his harmless conversational dodge with Dibbin. He could have smiled at the thought; but he only answered: "Surely all her papers have been removed?" "Who knows?" she said again, eying him keenly. "Certainly, I have seen no papers!" he exclaimed. "Well, you seem honest." "I hope so." "If you did happen to find any papers in the flat, they would not be your property, would they?" "Of course not!" "What would you do with them?" "I should give them to you." "God grant that you are honest!" she sighed. "But how would you find me?" "If you give me your name and address--" "My name is Violet Mordaunt," she said rapidly, as if venturing against some feeling of rashness. "My home is at Rigsworth in Warwickshire, near Kenilworth; but I am for the present in London, at--"