myself, with
nothing to do but think was a fine preparation for a sudden appearance
before those men--some of them police-officers, no doubt.

But that's enough about myself; I'm not the heroine of this story. In a
half hour or an hour--I never knew which--George reappeared only to
tell me that no conclusions had as yet been reached; an element of great
mystery involved the whole affair, and the most astute detectives on the
force had been sent for. Her father, who had been her constant companion
all winter, had not the least suggestion to offer in way of its
solution. So far as he knew--and he believed himself to have been in
perfect accord with his daughter--she had injured no one. She had just
lived the even, happy and useful life of a young woman of means,
who sees duties beyond those of her own household and immediate
surroundings. If, in the fulfillment of those duties, she had
encountered any obstacle to content, he did not know it; nor could he
mention a friend of hers--he would even say lovers, since that was what
he meant--who to his knowledge could be accused of harbouring any such
passion of revenge as was manifested in this secret and diabolical
attack. They were all gentlemen and respected her as heartily as they
appeared to admire her. To no living being, man or woman, could he point
as possessing any motive for such a deed. She had been the victim of
some mistake, his lovely and ever kindly disposed daughter, and while
the loss was irreparable he would never make it unendurable by thinking
otherwise.

Such was the father's way of looking at the matter, and I own that it
made our duty a trifle hard. But George's mind, when once made up, was
persistent to the point of obstinacy, and while he was yet talking he
led me out of the room and down the hall to the elevator.

"Mr. Slater knows we have something to say, and will manage the
interview before us in the very best manner," he confided to me now
with an encouraging air. "We are to go to the blue reception room on the
parlour floor."

I nodded, and nothing more was said till we entered the place mentioned.
Here we came upon several gentlemen, standing about, of a more or
less professional appearance. This was not very agreeable to one of my
retiring disposition, but a look from George brought back my courage,
and I found myself waiting rather anxiously for the questions I expected
to hear put.

Mr. Slater was there according to his promise, and aft