ay into a sober and blank gravity. Mr. Scott
waited for me to speak again, and bowed silently, as if to intimate he
was all attention.

"I came," I added, "to ask you for the name and address of that young
lady's friends, as I should prefer communicating directly with them,
with a view to cooperation in the discovery of her hiding-place. I need
scarcely say I have no wish to receive any reward. I entirely waive any
claim to that, if you will oblige me by putting me into connection with
the family."

"Have you no information you can impart to us?" asked Mr. Scott.

"None," I answered, decisively. "It is some months since I saw the
advertisement, and it must be nine months since you put it into the
_Times_. I believe it is nine months since the young lady was missing."

"About that time," he said.

"Her friends must have suffered great anxiety," I remarked.

"Very great indeed," he admitted.

"If I could render them any service, it would be a great pleasure to
me," I continued; "cannot you tell me where to find them?"

"We are authorized to receive any information," he replied. "You must
allow me to ask if you know any thing about the young lady in question?"

"My object is to combine with her friends in seeking her," I said,
evasively. "I really cannot give you any information; but if you will
put me into communication with them, I may be useful to them."

"Well," he said, with an air of candor, "of course the young lady's
friends are anxious to keep in the background. It is not a pleasant
circumstance to occur in a family; and if possible they would wish her
to be restored without any _eclat_. Of course, if you could give us any
definite information it would be quite another thing. The young lady's
family is highly connected. Have you seen any one answering to the
description?"

"It is a very common one," I answered. "I have seen scores of young
ladies who might answer to it. I am surprised that in London you could
not trace her. Did you apply to the police?"

"The police are blockheads," replied Mr. Scott.--"Will you be so good as
to see if there is any one in the outer office, Mr. Brown, or on the
stairs? I believe I heard a noise outside."

Mr. Brown disappeared for a few minutes; but his absence did not
interrupt our conversation. There was not much to be made out of it on
either side, for we were only fencing with one another. I learned
nothing about Olivia's friends, and I was satisfied he had learn