"Please sit down," she said; her tones were quite affable. She did not in the least appear to resent this sudden intrusion into her domestic life. "Lily, bring another cup. You will let me offer you some tea?" She was certainly a most agreeable person--on the right side of thirty, he judged. Smeaton was somewhat susceptible to female influence, although, to do him justice, he never allowed this weakness to interfere with business. He explained that tea was a meal of which he never partook. Mrs Saxton, it appeared, was a most hospitable person, and promptly suggested a whisky-and-soda. He must take something, she protested, or she would feel embarrassed. The detective accepted, and felt that things had begun very smoothly. The velvet glove was very obvious, even if, later, he should catch a glimpse of the iron hand encased within. "I must apologise for intruding upon you, Mrs Saxton, in this fashion. But I am in want of a little information, and I believe you can furnish me with it, if you are disposed to." Mrs Saxton smiled at him very sweetly, and regarded him with eyes of mild surprise. Very fine eyes they were, he thought. It was a pity that she had taken the trouble to enhance their brilliancy by the aid of art. She was quite good-looking enough to rely upon her attractions, without surreptitious assistance. "How very interesting," she said in a prettily modulated, but rather affected voice. "I am all curiosity." She was purring perhaps a little bit too much for absolute sincerity, but it was pleasant to be met with such apparent cordiality. Smeaton came to the point at once. "I am at the present moment considerably interested in the gentleman with whom you left the Savoy yesterday afternoon in a taxi-cab." There was just a moment's pause before she replied. But there were no signs of confusion about her. Her eyes never left his face, and there was no change in her voice when she spoke. She was either perfectly straightforward, or as cool a hand as he had ever met. "You are interested in Mr Stent? How strange! Gentlemen of your profession do not generally interest themselves in other persons without some strong motive, I presume?" "The motive is a pretty strong one. At present, other interests require that I do not divulge it," replied Smeaton gravely. He was pleased with one thing, he had already got the name of the man; he preferred not to confess that he did not know it. And her frank allusion to him as Mr Stent seemed to show that she had nothing to hide. Unless, of course, it was a slip. "I know I am asking something that you may consider an impertinence," he went on. "But, if you are at liberty to do so, I should like you to tell me all you know of this gentleman; in short, who and what he is."