“Has nothing been heard from her?” “Indirectly, yes. Her captors have offered to restore her for a ransom.” “Has there been any attempt to deal with her captors?” “Yes, but nothing has come of it. There is doubt now whether she is really in the hands of kidnapers.” “Ah! what then?” “I haven’t told you the whole story, Mr. Carter.” “Go on, then.” “The day after she disappeared it was found that a considerable amount of jewelry had gone also.” “Did she wear it at the ball?” “Some of it, most of it, in fact. But that was not all. There were also missing certain State papers and some private documents belonging to the governor. These are extremely important. They must be recovered at any cost.” “Are they more important than the recovery of Miss Bradley, Mr. Snell?” “No, I wouldn’t say that, but they complicate the case badly. An offer has been made to restore them.” “And the girl?” “No. That is, there was one offer to restore the girl and another to deal for the return of the papers and jewelry. There seems to be a double gang of villains at work.” “Possibly. What about the blackmail you mentioned?” “That,” answered Mr. Snell, hesitating, “has to do with the stolen papers.” “Something shady in the governor’s past?” Mr. Snell looked at the floor. “I wouldn’t like to say,” he replied. “Some people might think so.” “Evidently the robbers do think so, eh?” “Yes, for they put a big price on the papers.” “I suppose the matter has been investigated by the police of Manchester?” “No.” “Then how did you communicate with the robbers?” “I didn’t say that I had communicated with the robbers!” exclaimed Mr. Snell, hastily. “No, but I supposed it was you. Never mind that for a moment. Tell me more about the disappearance of Miss Bradley.” “There isn’t much that I can tell. She must have left the house soon after midnight, but she wasn’t missed till three hours or more later.” “Was she engaged to be married?” Snell looked sharply at the detective. “You’re a keen one,” he said. “No, she wasn’t engaged, and that is another complication. “Well, it is known that she was in love with a young fellow who wasn’t liked by her father. Naturally he wasn’t at the ball. It is thought possible that she eloped with him, and that the offer of the robbers to restore her was a bluff.” “Was her lover a rich man?” “Decidedly not.” “Then you think she may have taken the jewelry to sell for her own use.” “It’s possible, yes. I’ve thought of it.” “And that the robbery of the papers simply happened to come at the same time.” “That might be.” “Has Miss Bradley’s lover been seen since she disappeared?” “Yes.” “What does he say?” “Nothing.” “Indeed! I should suppose he would say a good deal.” “He goes about his business as usual, but he is under constant watch. It’s plain enough that there is something on his mind.” “I should think there might be, in any case. What is his name?” “Cecil West.”