Gilbert had a staggering sense that he was on the edge of some extraordinary affair, and he gazed earnestly at the clerk, who looked at him with corresponding intentness. "Have you anything more to tell me?" asked Gilbert. "I think it would be better if you spoke to the manager," said the clerk. "Would you mind coming in to see him?" "Not at all; but why?" "Well, you are not the only one who has been making inquiries about Mr. Thornton--I may tell you that; but, please come into the manager's room." Gilbert saw the manager, and explained his errand. "I am afraid," said the manager, speaking in an impressive voice, "that something may have happened to Mr. Thornton; indeed, I have very little doubt of it." "Why?" "Mr. Thornton did sail from New York as he intended; not only so, he landed at Southampton in due course, and came on to London on the 29th of last month. On that day he took a room at the Law Courts Hotel in Holborn. These are the facts." "How do you know he went to the Law Courts Hotel, may I ask?" "I have it from the hotel people themselves, and why they told me of it you will presently understand. It appears that Mr. Thornton was a good deal of an invalid; at any rate, shortly after he got to his hotel he was taken very seriously ill--he had a violent heart-attack of the most alarming character. He fell down in the hall of the hotel and became unconscious. He was immediately conveyed to his bed and a doctor was summoned." "Ah," said Gilbert, interrupting him, "I knew that he had a weak heart. But, pardon me, pray continue." "Mr. Thornton was successfully treated by the doctor, and after some hours recovered, but he remained in bed for the rest of that day and most of the next." "He got better," said Gilbert, beginning to breathe more freely. "That is good news." "Oh, but wait," said the manager. "I have not finished yet. He stopped in bed at his hotel most of the next day, as I have already told you--that was the 30th, you will remember. He improved so much that he told the attendant who had been detailed to look after his comfort, that he felt quite equal to getting up, and though the attendant remonstrated with him he persisted and did get up. You follow me, Mr. Eversleigh?" "Perfectly," replied Gilbert, who saw that something very unusual was coming, and was most eager to hear the end of the story. "Mr. Thornton had dinner at the _table d'hôte_--he was as well as that, you understand. After dinner he sat for quite a time chatting with two or three of the other guests, and, rather late in the evening, he announced his intention of going out for a short stroll; he said the fresh air would do him good. And he did go out." The manager paused, and looked at Gilbert significantly. "He went out," he resumed, "but he has never returned." CHAPTER X "What?" cried Gilbert; he felt as if some one had struck him a sudden blow. "He has never returned to the hotel," said the manager, very seriously.