"At any rate," said David, calming himself with a great effort, "we have that certain fact that Gwendoline Mordaunt was a wife. Good, to begin; most excellent, to begin. You can't say where the marriage took place? No other information at all." "I'm sorry, since it is so mighty important, but I'm afraid not. However, I'll do my best for you. I'll see if I or Jenny can remember anything. When we left the flat, there was a great overflowing with my torn-up letters, and Jenny may have thrown the certificates on that grate, or the bits of them, or she may have dropped them on the floor, or, just possibly, she put them in her pocket and may have them still. She will be here in less than half an hour, so, if I may offer you a cigar, and a whisky and soda--" "You are very good. I won't stay now, as I am in a hurry to do something. But, if I may come back--may I?" "Modest request! As often as you please, and welcome. This is Liberty Hall, you know." "Thank you, I will, then. There is one thing I have to ask you. Could you point out to me Mr. Johann Strauss?" "Of course, if I saw him. But I never knew where he lived, and have never seen him since the day I left the flat." "Well, that may come in time," said David, putting out his hand; "and meantime you will do your best for me in finding out about the two certificates. Thank you for all your goodness, and I will be here again soon." "Good-by," said Miss L'Estrange, "and I do hope you mean to give that Strauss a sound hiding some day. You look as if you could do it with one hand and pick your teeth with the other. It would be no more than he deserves." David ran down the flight after flight of stairs quicker than he had gone up. "Now," he thought to himself as he left the building with eager steps, "is my chance to give some joy!" Going into the first paper-shop, he wrote: "A well-wisher of Miss Mordaunt desires to assure her that it is a pretty certain thing that her sister Gwendoline was a duly wedded wife; the proofs of this statement may sooner or later be forthcoming." He put no signature to it, made haste to post it, and drove back to Eddystone Mansions. It had been wiser had he flattered Miss Ermyn L'Estrange by returning to her. CHAPTER VI THE WORD OF JOY