. There might be
an advantage in hinting that he knew a little about their business; but
he must make no mistakes. His steps echoed hollowly along the top
landing and there was something daunting in the gloom, for the gas had
not yet been lighted and the building was very quiet. It was possible
that he had started on this adventure with a rashness as great as his
folly in undertaking Carmen's errand, but he carried Alice
Featherstone's glove and it was unthinkable that he should turn back.

There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after
he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in
and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room. Sitting down, he
offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some
surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another. It would
be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke. Graham
pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being
disturbed. He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and
Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything
else.

"I'm rather busy just now," he said. "For all that, if I can be of any
use to you, Mr. ----"

Foster thought he overdid it by pretending to forget his name, but he
smiled.

"Foster. You'll recollect I brought you a packet, and as I'm going
back to Canada soon, I imagined I might take Miss Austin or Daly a
reply. You can see that they thought me a reliable messenger."

"Miss Austin obviously did so," Graham admitted.

"Doesn't this imply that Daly shared her good opinion?" Foster asked.

Graham glanced at him sharply and then picked up a letter and studied
it, but Foster imagined he wanted time to think. He had made the
plunge and indicated that he knew more than the other supposed; but the
rest needed care.

"You expect to meet Daly when you get back to Canada?" Graham inquired,
and Foster, who saw that he was cautious, wondered whether he was
alarmed.

"Oh, no; I expect to meet him before I start."

"You imply that he's in England."

"Don't you know he is?" Foster rejoined.

Graham knocked the ash off his cigarette and looked at him curiously.
His appearance was commonplace, he had a slight stoop, and was not
muscular, but Foster felt he might prove dangerous.

"I don't know where he is just now. Do you?"

"Well," said Foster, "I believe I could find him if I tried."

The other was silent for the n