"You must bear in mind, in fairness to them, that they do not care to appear to limit in any way the liberty of their guests--and also, Mr. Eversleigh, that they never suspected anything was wrong; it is easy to be wise after the event." "Yes, yes," Gilbert agreed, but he spoke with some impatience. "At first," the manager went on, "they were under no apprehension as to his safety, but when he did not return that day at all, nor the next, they began to think it a little strange; they thought it very singular, too, that they did not hear from him. They waited, however, till the Tuesday, and then they communicated with the police, and the affair is now in the latter's hands. A detective-inspector came to see if I could throw any light on the mystery. Of course, I was greatly interested, as you may imagine, but I could tell him nothing. I went round to the hotel in Holborn, and there learned what I have told you. I am afraid there is nothing more known at present." "But have the police discovered no trace of him?" "I don't think they have. I believe they are completely baffled--at their wits' end. They have no clue, none at all, so far as I can hear. No; the fact is that Mr. Thornton has vanished, you might say, from off the face of the earth. It is as if he had never been!" "What a terrible thing!" said Gilbert, in a voice of gloom. "Is there really nothing more?" "I fear there is absolutely nothing more." "Have you made any guess as to what has happened?" asked Gilbert. "No. You will see the police, Mr. Eversleigh?" "At once. But perhaps you will ring up the Law Courts Hotel; there's just a chance they may have something fresh." The manager immediately telephoned, and was told there were no further developments to be reported; Mr. Thornton was still missing, and nothing had been heard of him. Gilbert thanked the manager for the information he had given, and with a heavy heart went off to Scotland Yard. He thought of the loving girl who had looked forward with such keen pleasure to the coming of her father, and who was now so anxious about him. How was he to tell her what he had heard? And he feared that the worst had happened to Morris Thornton; he felt his conviction growing that the man was dead. Still, he must not say so to Kitty, so long as there was any uncertainty. Gilbert was seen at the "Yard" by Detective-inspector Gale, an officer of great experience, and a man of considerable ability. In introducing himself Gilbert mentioned that he was the son of Francis Eversleigh, of the firm of Eversleigh, Silwood, and Eversleigh, thinking that they must be known to Gale, who bowed respectfully as he listened. Coming to the matter of the disappearance of Morris Thornton, he also said that the firm were the solicitors of the missing man. Then he explained how it was he himself came into the case.