He evidently related something which amazed
them. Then a map, or plan, was placed upon the table, and each
examined it in turn. Afterwards two photographs were produced by Mr.
Winton and handed around the assembly. Each man looked long and
steadily at the pictures--both were of women. The young lady present
refused to take any part in the discussion, and I noticed that she
passed on the photographs without comment--without even glancing at
them."

"Did she appear to be present there against her will?" I asked
breathlessly.

"No, not exactly. She seemed very friendly with all the gentlemen. The
two foreigners were strangers to her--for she was introduced to them."

"By name?"

"Yes, sir. Miss Sonia Poland."

I bit my lip. Had she already dropped my name, and was now passing
under an alias?

"Sonia Poland!" I echoed. "Was it for the purpose of concealing her
identity from the foreigners, do you think?" I asked.

"No, sir. Because Winton and his companion addressed her as Sonia
Poland when she arrived."

"And you believed it to be her real name?"

"I suppose it is, sir," was the man's reply, for I fear my manner
somewhat mystified him.

"Well, and what further did you see at this early morning
consultation?" I asked, mindful that his curiosity had no doubt been
aroused by sight of something sparkling in the strange visitor's hand.

"The gentleman called Mr. Lewis wrote out a paper very carefully and
handed it round. Every one signed it--except the lady. They asked her
to do so, but she protested vigorously, and the matter was not
pressed. Then the photograph of a man was shown to the two foreigners,
and the lady tried to prevent it. Curiously enough, sir, I caught a
good sight of it--just a head and shoulders--and the picture very
much resembled you yourself, sir!"

"Me!" I cried. "And they showed it to the two young foreigners--eh?"

"Yes, sir. One of them took it and put it into his pocket. Then the
mysterious Mr. Lewis, as chairman of the meeting, seemed to raise a
protest. The two foreigners gesticulated, jabbered away, and raised
their shoulders a lot. I dearly wish I could have made out a word they
said. Unfortunately I couldn't. Only I saw that in Mr. Lewis's face
was a look of fierce determination. They at first defied him. But at
last, with great reluctance, they handed back the photograph, which
Mr. Lewis himself burned on the fire."

"He burned my photograph!"

"Yes, sir. I think it was you