d apparently unanswerable question?

"Who is she?" repeated Jack.

"Well," said I, "that's the very thing that I wish to find out, and I
want you to help me in it. I told you that she didn't leave any
message--"

"But, didn't you find out her name?"

"No."

"By Jove! You're a queer lot. Why, I'd have found out her name the
first thing."

"But I didn't--and now I want your help to find out not only her name,
but herself."

At this Jack rose, loaded his pipe solemnly, and, with the air of one
who is making preparations for a work of no common kind, lighted it,
flung himself back in the easy-chair, and sent forth vast volumes of
smoke, which might have been considered as admirably symbolical of the
state of our minds.

"Well, Macrorie," said he, at last, "I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd go
round to all the hotels, and examine the lists."

"Pooh!"

"Well, then, take the directory and hunt up all the names."

"Nonsense!"

"Why 'nonsense?'"

"Because I don't know her name. Didn't I impress that upon your mind?"

"By Jove!" cried Jack Randolph, after which he again relapsed into
silence.

"See here, Macrorie," said he, at length.

"I have it."

"What?"

"Go round next Sunday to all the churches."

"What's the use of that?"

"Go round to the churches," repeated Jack, "scan every bonnet--and
then, if you don't see her, why then, why--go to the photographic
saloons. You'll be sure to find her picture there. By Jove! Why,
Macrorie, the game's all in your own hands. These photographic saloons
are better than a whole force of detective police. There's your chance,
old man. You'll find her. Do that, and you're all right. Oh,
yes--you'll find her, as sure as my name's Jack Randolph."

"No go, Jack," said I. "You see I couldn't recognize her even if I were
to see her."

"Couldn't what?"

"Couldn't recognize her."

"You surely would know her if you saw her."

"I don't think I should."

"Well, of all the confounded fixes that ever I met with, this is the
greatest!"

"That's the peculiarity of my present situation."

Jack relapsed into smoky silence.

"The fact is," said Jack, after a brief pause, "we've got to go to work
systematically. Now, first of all, I want to know what she looks
like."

"Well, that's the very thing I don't know."

"Nonsense! You must know something about it. Is she a blonde or a
brunette? You can answer that, at least."

"I'm not sure that I can."

"What! don't you k