These unsatisfactory iterations produced no outward effect upon Leonard; he was a man who never showed his hand. With a pleasant smile he left the hotel thinking, "Now where the devil has the young fool gone? To make inquiries for his goddess, no doubt. Does that indicate impatience merely, or that he cannot trust me? I must no lose my hold on him. If it is necessary to humor him, humored he shall be. There is more than one way out of a wood." As a measure of precaution he walked in the direction of the house of the maiden sisters, and reaching it, walked slowly back toward the hotel. This was done with the intention of intercepting Gerald, and learning whether the young man had discovered Emilia's refuge--in which event he was prepared to disclose that he himself had at length discovered it, and was hurrying to his dear brother to communicate the welcome intelligence. "By the Lord Harry," he muttered, as he stood at the corner of the street, "here comes the young fool! It is lucky I am prepared." He strode rapidly toward Gerald, and almost upset him in his haste. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE FALSE FRIEND. "Hallo, Gerald!" he cried. "I meet you by the most fortunate chance. I have been hunting for you everywhere." "I could not wait for you at the hotel," said Gerald, "and had to go out and make inquiries for myself. What is the name of this street?" "Never mind the name of the street," said Leonard, jumping at the safe conclusion. "The house is the important thing, and I have discovered it." "Where my Emilia is?" "Yes, where your Emilia is." "I also have been told where she was taken to, and I was hurrying to her. Have you seen her, Len, have you seen her?" "I have not, and have not attempted to do so. You see, Gerald, it is night, and I am a stranger to her and to the people who have taken care of her. It will be best, after all, for you to go first, especially as you are no longer the scarecrow you were, and will not alarm her by your haggard appearance." "I am quite fresh now. Are we going to the house?" "Yes, I am taking you there. Oh, Gerald, how I have hunted for your Emilia! If I had been in love with her myself, if she were my sweetheart instead of yours, I could not have worked harder to find her." "I am sure you could not. You are a true friend. Forgive me for leaving the hotel; I could not bear the suspense." "You acted naturally, Gerald--as I should have done in your place. I am something more than a friend, I am your loving brother, dear boy, ready to go through fire and water to serve you." "God bless you, Len! Are we near the house?" "There it is, Gerald, on the opposite side, just beyond the lamp-post." "Come, then, come!" They had scarcely started to cross the road when the street-door was opened, and the maiden sisters appeared on the threshold, peering up and down the street. "Which is Emilia?" asked Leonard, grasping Gerald's arm, detaining him a moment. "Neither. Let us go to them."