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 he rang for the porter. Was he sure that no lady had been making inquiries? The man was certain, He had not yet been away for his holiday; he was not going until the end of the month. If he could do anything? Smales had been round the day before; he often called in case he should be wanted.

“Send him to me when he comes,” he said.

He went out and walked the streets for hours in the hope of seeing her. When he re- turned, footsore and sick at heart, the imper- turbable Smales was waiting for him. Smales’s round eyes opened wide with apprehension as he noted the change in his master’s appear- ance.

“Are you ill, sir? What has happened?”

He told him, more or less coherently. Smales listened respectfully, but evinced no great surprise. He had expected something if not this.

“I have come to find her,” explained the master, “and you must help me. London is a big place, John, but the odds are in favour of the West End. We must search.” He gave him money. “Go everywhere, follow every . clue. I shall not rest until I have found her.”