"Well, then, say nothing to your mistress, or to anyone else regarding my visit. First, I want you to answer one or two questions so as to either confirm or negative certain suspicions which I hold." "Suspicions of what?" she asked. "I will reveal those in due course," I replied. "Now, tell me what happened to Miss Gabrielle that she should be in her present mental state?" "Nobody can tell, sir. She went out one evening in November to go to her dancing lesson, and was not seen again until six days later, when she was found on the Portsmouth Road half-way between Liphook and Petersfield. She had evidently walked a considerable distance and was on her way towards London, when she collapsed at the roadside. A carter discovered her, gave warning to the police at Petersfield, and she was taken to the hospital, where it was found that her memory had entirely gone. She could not recognize her mother or anyone else." "On what date did she disappear?" I asked breathlessly. "On November the seventh." I held my breath. It was on the day of my startling adventure. "Would you describe to me the exact circumstances?" I asked eagerly. "I may be able to throw a very interesting light upon the affair." The woman hesitated. Perhaps it was but natural. "Well," she said at last. "My mistress is away. I think you ought to see her, sir." "Why, Mrs. Alford? You are the trusted servant of the family, and surely you know the whole facts?" "I do," she answered in a low, tense voice. "They are most remarkable." "Then tell me all you know, and in return I will try to explain some matters which are no doubt to you and to Mrs. Tennison a mystery." "Well, after tea on the day in question, the seventh of November, Miss Gabrielle went out to go to Addison Road to Mrs. Gill's dancing class. She was in the best of health and in high spirits because she had that morning received an invitation to go and stay with her cousin Leonora at Newmarket on the following Wednesday. As far as we know she had not a single trouble in the world." "She had no admirers--eh?" "Yes, several. But she had no serious flirtations, as far as we can make out," replied Mrs. Alford. "Her mother had gone to pay a visit, and when Miss Gabrielle went out she told me that she would be home at nine o'clock. Though we waited till midnight she did not return. We remained up all night, and next morning when I went to Mrs. Gill, in Addison Road, I found that she had left there at half-past six to return home. We then went to Kensington Police Station, and gave her description to the police." "What was their theory?" I asked. "They thought she had left home of her own accord--that she had a lover in secret. At least, the inspector hinted at that suggestion." "Of course her mother was frantic," I remarked. "But had you no suspicion of any person posing as her friend?"