ng glance at her
companion, then quickly rising, leaves the dining-room.

Waiting for a few moments, the man, slowly and with no appearance of
concern, follows.

Sir Donald briefly hesitates, then abruptly quits the table. Stepping to
the stairway, he sees the man ascending. Calling to him, Sir Donald
craves an interview upon "very important business."

With show of hesitation and vexed impatience, the stranger answers,
"Well?"

Sir Donald ascends, and begging pardon for his abrupt manners, says:

"If I am not mistaken, the young lady who just left the table in such
distress is supposed to be dead."

The man looks blank.

"Years ago she was reported drowned in the Thames."

Sir Donald sees that he is right.

"Her name is Alice Webster."

Raising his hand appealingly, the stranger beckons Sir Donald to follow.
They enter a room at the extreme rear of the building. It connects with
one adjoining. This door is quickly closed. Offering Sir Donald a seat
at the farther side, the stranger asks him to speak in low tones.

Comprehending that the woman is in the other room and that her companion
desires her not to hear their talk, Sir Donald does as requested.

"I am overjoyed that Alice is alive."

"Why?" is the brief response.

Sir Donald hesitates; then cautiously replies:

"For many reasons."

Realizing that this man is craftily fencing against some hazard, Sir
Donald will await more definite disclosures.

The stranger perceives this. He must confide in Sir Donald, and thereby
secure his aid.

"Suppose it should prove that you are right, what then?"

"We all would be too happy," is the guarded reply.

"Would you and your family keep such knowledge secret until we consented
to its publicity?"

Here Sir Donald judiciously temporizes.

"No light consideration would prompt any of us to oppose your wishes.
However, to save an innocent person from suspicion of murder or to
promote the happiness of some loved one, I would tell all."

The stranger here looks puzzled.

"I cannot grasp your meaning. Who is suspected of murder? Whose
happiness could be promoted by such disclosures?"

Sir Donald is now sure that this man knows nothing of the facts
prompting these reservations.

"Alice Webster and Oswald Langdon are supposed to be dead. Alice is
alive and now in the adjoining room. Paul Lanier committed the assault.
Pierre Lanier has defrauded Alice out of a large estate. She is alive
and interested in