"You never took the trouble to make inquiries about me?" She surprised a look in Douglas' face--why did he appear as if caught? The expression was fleeting, but Eleanor's eyes hardened. "Good-bye," she turned abruptly away, without seeing his half-extended hand. Douglas looked anything but pleasant when he joined Brett, who stood waiting for him in the vestibule. They strolled down Massachusetts Avenue for over a block in absolute silence. Brett was the first to speak. "When you were eating breakfast I saw Annette, Miss Thornton's French maid, and questioned her in regard to the dressing gowns worn by the Carew household." "What luck did you meet with?" inquired Douglas, rousing from a deep study. "She says Mrs. Winthrop, Miss Carew, and Miss Thornton all wear dressing gowns made of oriental silk." "Upon my word!" ejaculated Douglas, much astonished. "Still, they can't be the same pattern." "It won't be so easy to identify your midnight caller by means of that silk," taking out the slip which Douglas had torn from the dressing gown the night before. "Annette says the gowns were given to Mrs. Winthrop and Miss Carew by Miss Thornton, who purchased them, with hers, at a Japanese store in H Street. The French girl isn't above accepting a bribe, so when I suggested her showing me the gowns, she got them and brought them into the library, while Mrs. Winthrop and Miss Thornton were breakfasting in Miss Carew's boudoir." "Did you see all three of them?" "Yes, and they are as alike as two peas in a pod. And, Mr. Hunter," his voice deepened impressively, "I examined them with the greatest care, and not one kimono was torn--nor had any one of them ever been mended." CHAPTER IX AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT "This gentleman has called to see you, sir," and the messenger handed a visiting card to the Secretary of State, who laid his pen down on his desk and carefully inspected the card. "Show Mr. Hunter in," he directed, then looked across at his stenographer. "You need not wait, Jones." As the stenographer gathered up his papers and hastened out of the room, Douglas was ushered in, and after a few words of greeting the Secretary motioned him to take the large leather chair placed beside his desk. "I was sorry not to find you when I called yesterday, Mr. Secretary," began Douglas. "I was detained in the West and did not get here until this morning. What do you wish to see me about, Mr. Hunter?" "First, to thank you for granting me a leave of absence." "That is all right. Senator Carew came here and asked as a particular favor to him that you be allowed to return to Washington. By the way, his death was terrible, terrible. His loss will be felt by the whole country." "It will, indeed," agreed Douglas. "Did you see Senator Carew before his death?" "No, Mr. Secretary; I only reached Washington on Monday, the night of his murder."