"When we meet we shall do so as strangers, of course," he said, with a sinister smile. "Look your best—won’t you?" "Very well," she laughed, and five minutes later he sat down at the telephone in the room and spoke to his wife. "All right, Lilla," he said. "Ena will be with you about six. I’ve told her exactly what we’ve arranged. I’m now going back to Hammersmith," and, after hanging up the receiver, he took leave of the Red Widow and went direct to Bridge Place. Mrs. Felmore was surprised that her master should return so early, for he was at home before five. Marigold had not come in from the office, therefore he sent the deaf old woman out to the post, and, putting on his long white gown, took up to the attic the new tin kettle and some other things. But he did not obtain them from that cupboard in his room. He had purchased duplicates on his way home. He was not upstairs for more than five minutes—just sufficient to reassure the weird recluse and hand to him the necessities required. Then he came down again, and calmly read the evening paper till his meal was ready. Marigold did not return before seven, but she left her lover to resume his vigil outside. At eight o’clock Bernard Boyne went out as usual, and Marigold spent another quiet evening with her aunt, confident that Gerald was keeping a very vigilant eye upon the man of mystery! Next day at the lunch hour she went eagerly to the little restaurant, but he did not put in an appearance. She wondered why. On returning to the bank she at once rang up his office, but was informed that he had not been there that day! He had sent his principal a telegram stating that he had been suddenly taken ill, and apologised for his absence. The doctor had said that he could not return for several days. Making excuse to Mr. Kenyon, the assistant manager, she left the bank at four, and at once went over to Ealing, only to find that his sister had received a telegram late on the previous night, which had been handed in at Charing Cross Post Office and read: "_Don’t worry! Am all right. Returning in two or three days. Writing._—GERALD." Further mystified, she at once went back to Hammersmith, where she found a telegram which had arrived for her at eleven o’clock that morning. It had been dispatched from Knightsbridge, and read: "_Am all right, dear! Do not worry. Have discovered something, but am not returning for a day or two._—GERRY." "Is it from Mr. Boyne?" asked her aunt as she watched the girl’s face. "No. Why?" she asked. "Because Mr. Boyne hasn’t been home all night," was her aunt’s reply. "I can’t think what’s happened to him! When I went up this morning to wake him, because I thought he had overslept himself, I found that his bed had not been slept in!" *CHAPTER XVII* *"NEWS" FROM LANCASTER GATE* Marigold was naturally much puzzled. What had her lover discovered? What did he know?