costume, and she had not even removed her hat since
she returned. In answer to her summons a maid appeared with a cup of
coffee and a couple of biscuits on a tray. That reminded her that she
had not eaten since she had risen. She drank the coffee and ate the
biscuits, while waiting for the brougham she had ordered. Within a
quarter of an hour she was on her way to Scotland Yard.

In the circular hall, entered through swing-doors from the wide steps of
the main entrance, a uniformed policeman hurried forward to take her
card. Through the big windows she could see beneath her the surging life
of the Embankment and the smooth traffic of the river. Had the river
given up its secret? The constable returned, and she was ushered along a
grey and green corridor to Foyle's room. He had his overcoat on, and his
hat and stick lay on the table. He smiled a polite welcome at her, and
she strove to read his genial face without success. For her there was
something of humiliation in the situation. She, who had taken pains to
be offensive on the last occasion that they had met, was now dependent
upon his good-nature for the information she wanted.

"What can I do for you, Lady Eileen?" he asked with grave courtesy.

She had dropped into a chair and her grey eyes met his, half defiant,
half entreating. She answered with quick directness--

"You can tell me what has happened to Mr. Grell."

He opened his hands in a gesture of surprised expostulation. "My dear
young lady! I only wish we knew."

Her foot tattooed impatiently on the floor. "Please don't treat me as if
I were a child, Mr. Foyle. Something has happened since yesterday
morning. I demand to know what it is."

Foyle was invariably gentle with women, and her insistent dignity rather
amused than angered him. "Since you demand it," he said suavely, laying
a scarcely perceptible stress on the word demand, "I will tell you. As
the result of certain information, observation has been kept on Lady
Eileen Meredith. She was followed yesterday to the advertisement offices
of the _Daily Wire_, where she made inquiries respecting a certain
cipher advertisement which was to appear in that paper. Failing to
obtain what she wanted, she left a note warning some one in the
following terms: 'The police know the cipher. Be very cautious. R. F. is
acting with them.'"

An angry flush swept across the girl's pale cheeks. "I know you have set
your spies about me," she said scornfully. "I did not