said Poltavo, rising.

"Are you the editor of this paper?" asked the girl, as she slowly closed
the door behind her.

Poltavo bowed. He was always ready to accept whatever honour chance
bestowed upon him. Had she asked him if he were Mr. Brown, he would also
have bowed.

"I had a letter from you," said the girl, coming to the other side of
the table and resting her hand on its edge and looking down at him a
little scornfully, and a little fearfully, as Poltavo thought.

He bowed again. He had not written letters to anybody save to his
employer, but his conscience was an elastic one.

"I write so many letters," he said airily, "that I really forget whether
I have written to you or not. May I see the letter?"

She opened her bag, took out an envelope, removed the letter and passed
it across to the interested young man. It was written on the
note-heading of _Gossip's Corner_, but the address had been scratched
out by a stroke of the pen. It ran:

"DEAR MADAM,--

"Certain very important information has come into my possession
regarding the relationships between yourself and Captain Brackly. I feel
sure you cannot know that your name is being associated with that
officer. As the daughter and heiress of the late Sir George Billk, you
may imagine that your wealth and position in society relieves you of
criticism, but I can assure you that the stories which have been sent to
me would, were they placed in the hands of your husband, lead to the
most unhappy consequences.

"In order to prevent this matter going any further, and in order to
silence the voices of your detractors, our special inquiry department is
willing to undertake the suppression of these scandal-mongers. It will
cost you L10,000, which should be paid to me in notes. If you agree, put
an advertisement in the agony column of the _Morning Mist_, and I will
arrange a meeting where the money can be paid over. On no account
address me at my office or endeavour to interview me there.

"Yours very truly,
"J. BROWN."

Poltavo read the letter and now the function of _Gossip's Corner_ was
very clear. He refolded the letter and handed it back to the girl.

"I may not be very clever," said the visitor, "but I think I can
understand what blackmail is when I see it."

Poltavo was in a quandary, but only for a moment.

"I did not write that letter," he said suavely; "it was writt