"Well that is unfortunate," lamented the inspector. "After we've come all the way to see her, too. When do you expect her back?" "I'm--I'm not sure." "You've carried out your instructions, my girl," said Labar, with stern suavity. "Now you take that card straight in to your mistress and tell her that we intend to see her. She was on the veranda five minutes ago. You hear me." This was utter guess work. Labar, so far as he knew, had never seen Mrs. Gertstein in his life. But the figure that had vanished and the maid waiting for them by the open door had given him an impression. The maid flushed and stepped back. Labar gave a jerk of his head to Malone, who stood his ground while the inspector followed the maid. She halted as she saw his purpose. "Go on," he ordered. A little uncertainly she led the way. She tapped at a door and at a summons to enter pushed it open. "Well, Rena," said a soft voice. "Have they gone?" Labar pushed by the maid into the room. "No, Mrs. Gertstein," he replied. "We are still here." The woman lounging in a big divan chair regarded him dumbly. He laid down his hat and stick and nodded to the maid. "You may go," he said. With wondering eyes she withdrew. As the door closed the woman on the chair drew herself up stiffly. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" "It means that your maid is a bad liar," he said. "Need I introduce myself? I fancy you know me. I am Detective Inspector Labar." Her fingers clutched tightly on the elbows of the chair, and her eyes roamed wildly about the room to come to rest at last on his impassive figure. "You have no right--" she began furiously. He smiled tranquilly down at her. "I suggest that you calm yourself, madam. I shall not bite you." She rose. "If you think I will suffer this impertinence you are mistaken." Labar soberly adjusted his tall figure to a settee. It was bad manners, but he intended it simply as a gesture to this woman who, half-afraid and half-angry, was wondering as to the purport of his visit. He was confident that her curiosity would for the time hold her. "I beg your pardon. If I tell you that I have in my possession the letter you wrote to Larry Hughes yesterday, it may afford you some reason for my insistence." There were many things that Adèle Gertstein had feared, but this was not one of them. Her jaw dropped. She tried to say something but words would not come. She slumped back into her chair trying vainly to recall what was in the letter beyond the appeal for money. She heard his voice as from far away. "I want to know who is blackmailing you." "I am not being blackmailed." She regained some command of herself and sat up so that she could see his face. But Labar was too experienced to allow anything to show there that he did not wish to be seen.