For ten years after her mother's death Eva Wilkinson and her father were hardly ever separated, and then Ewart Wilkinson died suddenly. He left practically the whole of his vast fortune to his daughter; and her uncle, Mrs. Wilkinson's brother Michael, who had recently succeeded his father in the baronetcy, was left her guardian. There was a curious clause in the will. Wilkinson, possibly because one or two cases had happened in America at the time the will was made--half a dozen years before his death--seemed particularly afraid that the heiress might be kidnaped, and her guardian was enjoined to watch over her in this respect especially. Within six months of his death the very thing he feared happened. Eva Wilkinson was at Whiteladies at the time with her companion, Mrs. Reville. After dinner one evening she went alone on to the terrace, and from that moment had entirely disappeared. A telegram was sent that night to Sir Michael, who was in London, Scotland Yard was informed, and the mystery was given me to solve. I had commenced my inquiries when on going to Chelsea in the evening Quarles told me he had met Ewart Wilkinson about three years before, and under the circumstances he was very interested in the mystery. "The fact that he was afraid of something happening to his daughter suggests that he had some reason for his fear," I said. "It does, Wigan--it does! He mentioned this very thing to me three years ago, and I thought then there was some one in his past of whom he was afraid." "And his past seems to be a closed book," I returned. "Eva Wilkinson must be between eighteen and nineteen," Zena remarked. "Kidnaping a girl of that age is a different thing from kidnaping a child." "True!" said Quarles. "Isn't it more probable that she went away willingly?" said Zena. "You don't help me, my dear," said the professor with a frown, and the suggestion seemed to irritate him. It stuck in his mind, however, for when we went to see Sir Michael the idea was evidently behind his first question. "Is there any love affair?" asked Quarles. "Any reason which might possibly induce the girl to go away of her own accord?" The suggestion seemed to bring a ray of hope into Sir Michael's despair. "I think she is too sensible a girl to do anything of the kind, but there was a little affair, not very serious on her side, I fancy, and there was probably a desire for money on the man's part. Young Cayley has seen Eva at intervals since they were children, but in her father's lifetime there was no question of love. Directly after Wilkinson's death, however, Edward Cayley came prominently on the scene. I talked to Eva about him, and although she was inclined to be angry, I think it was rather with herself than at my interference." "Cayley is quite a poor man, I presume?" said Quarles. "Yes; but that did not influence me. He is not the kind of man I should like my niece to marry. Oh! I have nothing definite against him."