go. A message was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken ill
and needed her. She went off at once."

Wetherell's anxiety was piteous to see.

"My God!" he cried in despair. "If that is so, I am ruined. This is
Nikola's revenge."

Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward, and fell in
a dead faint upon the floor.

CHAPTER II

ON THE TRAIL

As soon as Wetherell was able to speak again he said as feebly as an old
man of ninety, "Take me home, Mr. Hatteras, take me home, and let us
think out together what is best to be done to rescue my poor child."

The Governor rose to his feet and gave him his arm.

"I think you're right, Mr. Wetherell," he said. "It is of course just
probable that you will find your daughter at her home when you arrive.
God grant she may be! But in case she is not I will communicate all I
know to the Police Commissioner on his arrival, and send him and his
officers on to you. We must lose no time if we wish to catch these
scoundrels." Then turning to me, he continued: "Mr. Hatteras, it is
owing to your promptness that we are able to take such early steps. I
shall depend upon your further assistance in this matter."

"You may do so with perfect confidence," I answered. "If you knew all
you would understand that I am more anxious perhaps than any one to
discover the whereabouts of the young lady and my unfortunate friend."

Next moment we were being whirled down the drive at a pace which at any
other time I should have thought dangerous. Throughout the journey we
sat almost silent, wrapped in our anxieties and forebodings; hoping
almost against hope that when we arrived at Potts Point we should find
Phyllis awaiting us there. At last we turned into the grounds, and on
reaching the house I sprang out and rang the bell, then I went down to
help my companion to alight. The butler opened the door and descended
the steps to take the rugs. Wetherell stopped him almost angrily,
crying:

"Where is your mistress? Has she come home?"

The expression of surprise on the man's face told me, before he had time
to utter a word, that our hopes were not to be realized. "Miss Phyllis,
sir?" the man said. "Why, she's at the ball."

Wetherell turned from him with a deep sigh, and taking my arm went
heavily up the steps into the hall.

"Come to my study, Mr. Hatteras," he said, "and let me confer with you.
For God's sake don't desert me in my hour of need!"

"You need have