"I can stop only five minutes," I said, in excuse of my hurried arrival and departure; "I have a hundred things to attend to to-night." I beckoned to Emilia, and she followed me to an unoccupied room. "I wish you," I said to her, "to bend your mind most earnestly on the night of the 16th of last month. Don't tremble; there is nothing to be frightened at; I am hard at work in your interests, and I am full of hope. Are you quite calm?" She nodded, and I continued. "You saw Dr. Peterssen go into the house in Gerard Street; you saw him come out of it. When he went in did he carry a parcel with him?" "No." "You are sure of it?" "I am sure I should have noticed it. I had perfect control over myself, and nothing escaped my attention." "When he came out of the house did he have a parcel with him?" "Yes, now you mention it, I remember that he did. I attached no importance to it at the time, my mind being bent upon my own errand." "That is all I wish to know at present. Keep a stout heart. All may yet be well." So, with a bright smile, I left her, and bade the cabman drive to Gerard Street, Soho. CHAPTER XLVI. I ENTER INTO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH SOPHY. At the corner of the street I dismissed the cab, and hurried after a familiar figure. It was Sophy, who seemed to be literally flying along the pavement, now on one leg, now on the other, and had she not suddenly wheeled round in my direction I should have had to run at the top of my speed to catch her. Seeing me she pulled up, and, with her face scarlet with excitement, greeted me boisterously. "Why, what on earth are you doing, Sophy?" I asked, laughing and wondering at her. She lifted her feet, one after another, for my inspection; she was skating on wheels. "I'm the champion skater," she said, triumphantly; "I shall git a turn at the music halls before long. Look 'ere; I can beat the lot of 'em." Away she flew with marvellous swiftness for a space of fifty yards or so, then wheeled round and round and reached my side by executing a series of circles in the cleverest manner possible. I have no doubt that there are technical terms to describe her feats, but I am not acquainted with them. "There!" she cried. "What do you think of that?" "You'll break your neck if you don't mind," I said. "Break my neck!" she exclaimed. "Not me! That's nothink to what I can show yer. I _am_ glad to see yer back, I am? Aunty sed you'd give us up. 'Not 'im,' sed I; 'he ain't one of the giving-up sort.' You look tired out; ain't yer been well?" "Quite well, Sophy, but, like you, very busy. Is your aunt at home?" "Yes," said Sophy, bursting into a fit of laughter; "she's down in the kitching, with a pore man's plaster on 'er side. I got 'er to put on the roller-skates--leastways I put 'em on for 'er--and the minute she stood up in 'em she toppled over and fell agin the dresser. She ain't 'urt much, but she likes to make a lot of a little. I'm all over bruises, I am, but I don't fuss over 'em."