Italy handed him a dainty bit of pasteboard. He glanced at the pretty name, and again at the pretty face, then disappeared through an open door that led into a narrow hallway. In a few minutes he returned, and said regretfully: “Mr. Gardner is out at present. Be seated, Miss Vale; he will probably return in a short time.” He placed a chair for her, and assumed an engaging air. “Client of Mr. Gardner?” “No.” “Relative, eh?” Italy had heard something about Yankee inquisitiveness, so she smiled just a little, and answered again: “No.” “Ah, friend!” “Ye-es,” she answered timidly, without comprehending the veiled significance of the tone. She had never known Mr. Gardner, but she felt she had a right to claim her mother’s friend as her own. Craig Severn smiled broadly, and added: “Mr. Gardner is a married man, you know?” “Of course,” she replied carelessly, and added: “Do you think he will come in soon?” “I cannot tell. In fact, I expect he has gone home. It is past office-hours now, and I only remained to finish up some papers I was working on.” Italy rose hastily, her beautiful face clouded with disappointment. “Where is his home? I must take a cab there at once,” she cried. “Then you did not know that he lived in the country?” asked the inquisitive clerk. “No, no”--impatiently. “I may as well tell you, sir, I am a stranger in Boston. Although I was born in America, I have lived abroad since my early childhood. But now I am an orphan, with no near relations, and as Lawyer Gardner was my mother’s true friend, I sailed for this country thinking, thinking----” but her voice faltered and she paused. “Does he know--does he expect you?” Craig Severn asked eagerly. “No; I shall take him quite by surprise,” she replied; then, weary of his questioning, that began to appear almost rude, she crested her dark head almost haughtily, and added: “You must not detain me, sir, with idle questions. Please give me Mr. Gardner’s address at once.” Craig Severn’s intensely black eyes were glittering strangely. It was most unfortunate for her that she had thoughtlessly confided her sad story to his ears--an orphan and a stranger, alone and friendless in a great, wicked city--and she so beautiful! “Mr. Gardner’s house is out in the suburbs of Boston--several miles distant,” declared the clerk. “But I am going in that direction, for I live close to him, so I will be glad to show you the way, if you will accept my escort.” Unnerved and troubled by the occurrences of the day, she did not notice how ambiguous his words were. She bowed assent to his offer, glad of assistance in her search for the only friend she could claim in all wide America.