o!" He
sprang up suddenly and thrust out a supporting arm.

Farrington had risen, and stood swaying slightly upon his feet. He was
frightfully pale, and his countenance was contracted as if in pain. He
lifted a wavering hand to his head.

With a supreme effort he steadied himself.

"Doris," he asked quickly, "I meant to ask you--where did you leave Lady
Constance?"

The girl looked up in surprise.

"I haven't seen her to-day--she went down to Great Bradley last
night--didn't she, auntie?"

The elder woman nodded.

"Mannish, and not a little discourteous _I_ think," she said, "leaving
her guests and motoring through the fog to the country. I sometimes
think Constance Dex is a trifle mad."

"I wish I could share your views," said Farrington, grimly.

He turned abruptly to Doughton.

"Look after Doris," he said. "I have remembered--an engagement."

He beckoned Frank, with a scarcely perceptible gesture, and the two men
passed out of the box.

"Have you discovered anything?" he asked, when they were outside.

"About what?" asked Frank, innocently.

A grim smile broke the tense lines of Mr. Farrington's face.

"Really!" he said, drily, "for a young man engaged in most important
investigations you are casual."

"Oh!--the Tollington business," said the other. "No, Mr. Farrington, I
have found nothing. I don't think it is my game really--investigating
and discovering people. I'm a pretty good short story writer but a
pretty rotten detective. Of course, it is awfully kind of you to have
given me the job----"

"Don't talk nonsense," snapped the older man. "It isn't kindness--it's
self-interest. Somewhere in this country is the heir to the Tollington
millions. I am one of the trustees to that estate and I am naturally
keen on discovering the man who will relieve me of my responsibility.
There is a hundred pounds awaiting the individual who unearths this
heir."

He glanced at his watch.

"There is one other thing I want to speak to you about--and that is
Doris."

They stood in the little corridor which ran at the back of the boxes,
and Frank wondered why he had chosen this moment to discuss such urgent
and intimate matters. He was grateful enough to the millionaire for the
commission he had given him--though with the information to go upon,
looking for the missing Tollington heir was analogous to seeking the
proverbial needle--but grateful for the opportunity which even this
association gave him for meet