“‘We all change,’ I interpolated, and she replied: “‘You are right. I was a girl when you saw me last, and now I am a woman. Mr. Wright, do you not remember Isabella Porter?’ “The instant she mentioned the name I remembered her. “Her parents used to live a few doors from the Red Dragon Inn. Her father was a produce merchant. When she was a small girl I used to give her pennies to spend. Her father died and her mother moved out of the neighborhood. I lost track of them, and I had not seen nor heard of Isabella until she appeared in my room. “To tell you the truth, Mr. Carter, even after she had told me who she was, I studied her face, but could not see a line in it that was familiar to me. I believed she was Isabella Porter, all the same. “I told her that I remembered her name, and then for a time she was silent. She bowed her head, and seemed lost in deep thought. “Suddenly she glanced up at me. “‘I’ve called to see you on a peculiar errand,’ she informed me. “‘What is it?’ I asked. “‘One night about ten or eleven years ago,’ she said, ‘a man called on you at the Red Dragon Inn and gave you a package to keep. “‘The man was a stranger to you. “‘On the package was written the name of Edward Peters. “‘You put the package in your safe and the man never called for it.’ “She paused and fastened her eyes upon me, Mr. Carter, with that strange, uncanny, searching look--it was certainly peculiar, _very_ peculiar! “I recalled the incident distinctly, but something within me seemed to tell me to pretend ignorance about the package, to try and draw her out and find out what she was aiming at, so I said: “‘I don’t remember any such incident.’ “Isabella Porter started and her face darkened. “‘You don’t?’ she ejaculated, in a tone of annoyance. “‘No,’ I replied. I was perfectly calm now, you see, and I had full command of my senses. “Isabella eyed me closely, but I returned her gaze unflinchingly. “Why I acted in this way I cannot tell. An unseen force seemed to be guiding me. “‘What did you do with the contents of your safe?’ Isabella asked. “‘When I sold the place,’ I replied, ‘I removed the contents of the safe. I placed the paper in a box and locked it up in the safe deposit vault. Since that time I have never looked at it,’ which was the truth. “‘Then the package must be in your box,’ Isabella ejaculated, and her countenance brightened. ‘Mr. Wright, I want that package.’ “‘If it should be among my papers,’ I replied, ‘I can’t see why I should deliver it to you. It does not belong to you.’ “She bit her lips with annoyance and exclaimed: “‘I must get possession of that package, Mr. Wright.’ “‘Why?’ I asked. “‘I can’t tell you the reason why,’ she answered. ‘You would not understand if I were able to explain. But, Mr. Wright, please let me have that package.’ “‘What is in it?’ I asked. “‘I can’t tell you,’ she replied.