y, had an air of
dust and neglect about it which prepared him for the worst. After
considerable delay a journeyman plumber unfastened the door and
explained that the caretaker had just stepped out, while he himself
had been employed on a job with the cistern at the back of the house.
He was not able to give Vincent much information. The family were all
away; they might be abroad, but he did not know for certain; so
Vincent had to leave, with the questions he longed to put unasked. At
South Audley Street he was again disappointed. The servant there had
not been long in the place, but knew that Mr. Ashburn, the last
lodger, had gone away for good, and had left no address, saying he
would write or call for his letters. Holroyd could not be at ease
until he had satisfied himself that his friend had been true to him.
He almost hated himself for feeling any doubt on the subject, and yet
Mark had certainly behaved very strangely; in any case he must try to
find out who this Cyril Ernstone might be, and he went on to the City
and called at Messrs. Chilton and Fladgate's offices with that
intention.

Mr. Fladgate himself came down to receive him in the little room in
which Mark Ashburn had once waited. 'You wished to speak to me?' he
began.

'You have published a book called "Illusion,"' said Vincent, going
straight to the point in his impatience. 'I want to know if you feel
at liberty to give me any information as to its author?' Mr.
Fladgate's eyebrows went up, and the vertical fold between them
deepened.

'Information,' he repeated. 'Oh, dear me, no; it is not our practice,
really. But you can put your question of course, if you like, and I
will tell you if we should be justified in answering you,' he added,
as he saw nothing offensive in his visitor's manner.

'Thank you,' said Vincent. 'I will, then. Would you be justified in
telling me if the name of "Cyril Ernstone" is a real or assumed one?'

'A few days ago I should have said certainly not; as it is--I presume
you are anxious to meet Mr. Ernstone?'

'I am,' said Vincent: 'very much so.'

'Ah, just so; well, it happens that you need not have given yourself
the trouble to come here to ask that question. As you are here,
however, I can gratify your curiosity without the slightest breach of
confidence. There is our later edition of the book on that table; the
title-page will tell you all you want to know.'

Vincent's hand trembled as he took the book. Then he ope