w came with her father to take up her abode in
London. When settled there one of her first acts was to send a note to
Lucian, telling him that she was in town. The good looks of the young
man had made a considerable impression on Mrs. Vrain, and she appeared
anxious to renew the acquaintance, although it had been so
inauspiciously begun in the purlieus of the police courts.

On his part, Lucian lost no time in paying his respects, for after the
searching inquiry conducted by the Sirius Assurance Company, out of
which ordeal Mrs. Vrain had emerged unscathed, he began to think that he
had been too hasty in condemning the little widow. So he called upon her
almost immediately after receiving the invitation, and found her, after
the lapse of three months, as pretty as ever, and clothed in less heavy
mourning.

"It's real sweet of you to call, Mr. Denzil," said she vivaciously. "I
haven't seen anything of you since we met in Mr. Link's office. And
sakes! have I not had a heap of trouble since then?"

"Your trouble has done you no harm, Mrs. Vrain. So far as your looks go,
three minutes, rather than three months, might have passed."

"Oh, that's all right. I guess it's not good enough to cry one's self
sick for what can't be helped. But I want to ask you, Mr. Denzil, how
that policeman is progressing with the case."

"He has found out nothing," replied Lucian, shaking his head, "and, so
far as I can see, there's not much chance of learning the truth."

"I never thought there was," said Mrs. Vrain, with a shrug. "Seems to me
you don't get round much in this old country. Well, it don't seem as I
can do much more. I've told all I know, and I've offered a reward of
L500 to discover the man who stuck Mark. If he ain't found for dollars
he won't be found at all."

"Probably not, Mrs. Vrain. It is now over three months since the crime
was committed, and every day makes the chance of discovery less."

"But for all that, Diana Vrain's going on the trail, Mr. Denzil."

"Diana Vrain! Who is she?"

"My stepdaughter--Mark's only child. She was in Australia--out in the
wild west of that country--and only lately got the news of her father's
death. I got a letter from her last week, and it seems as she's coming
back here to find out who laid her poppa out."

"I am afraid she'll not succeed," said Denzil dubiously.

"She'll do her best to," replied Mrs. Vrain, with a shrug. "She's as
obstinate as a battery mule; but it's no use t