"It certainly is extremely curious that Mrs Laing should have left Pont Street without sending me a letter to the club, giving me her new address," he said calmly, after reflection. "You have not, then, heard from her?" "No, I have had no letter. A week before I left for South Africa I dined there, and she then told me that she intended to remain in England throughout the year. She expressed the greatest gratification that Ella had married so happily, and seemed in the best of spirits. Yet a few days later, it appears, she fled as secretly as if she had been a criminal. It is really very extraordinary; I can't account for it in the least." "All effort to trace Ella has failed," I observed gloomily, after a moment's reflection. "Whose aid have you sought? A private inquiry agent?" "No. The police," I answered. "Police!" he exclaimed, surprised. "They have committed no crime, surely. I--I mean that the police do not trace missing friends." "They will carry out the orders of any Government Department," I answered. "The request came from my chief." "From Lord Warnham! Then you have told him!" "Of course," I responded. In contemplative silence he slowly blew a great cloud of smoke from his lips. Then he said, "There is one thing you haven't told me, Geoffrey. What was the name of this pretty Russian who made these mysterious allegations against Ella?" "Her name was Sonia Korolenko." "Sonia Korolenko!" he cried in a voice strangely hoarse, halting and glaring at me with wide-open, staring eyes. "Sonia! And she has gone, you say?" "Yes. She has returned to Russia, I believe. But what do you know of her?" I quickly inquired. "Nothing. I merely know her by repute as a notorious woman, that's all," he answered. "You were certainly wise to discard her allegations." "Is she such a well-known person?" I asked. "I should rather think so," he answered, elevating his eyebrows. "Her fame has spread all over the Continent. She was leader of a certain circle of questionable society in Vienna a year ago, and narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the police." "But what can have induced Ella to associate with her?" I exclaimed in wonderment. "Ah! That is more than we can tell," he answered, in a tone of sincere regret. "The ways of women of her type are ofttimes utterly incomprehensible." "Were you aware that Ella was acquainted with her?" I inquired earnestly. At that moment, however, the electric gongs along the Terrace commenced ringing sharply, announcing that the House was about to divide. The division was upon an important amendment, and had been expected at any moment since the dinner-hour. Turning back quickly he hurried through the tea-room along the corridor, and shaking hands with me in haste, promising to resume our conversation on another occasion, disappeared to record his vote.