ou were busy at the Stores."

Milburgh shifted uneasily.

"The place has a fascination for me," he said huskily, "I--I can't keep
away from it."

He dropped his eyes before Tarling's keen gaze and repeated the question.

"Is there any fresh news?"

"I ought to ask you that," said Tarling quietly.

The other looked up.

"You mean Miss Rider?" he asked. "No, sir, nothing has been found to her
detriment and I cannot trace her present address, although I have pursued
the most diligent inquiries. It is very upsetting."

There was a new emphasis in his voice. Tarling remembered that when Lyne
had spoken to Milburgh before, and had suggested that the girl had been
guilty of some act of predation, Milburgh had been quick to deny the
possibility. Now his manner was hostile to the girl--indefinitely so, but
sufficiently marked for Tarling to notice it.

"Do you think that Miss Rider had any reason for running away?" asked the
detective.

Milburgh shrugged his shoulders.

"In this world," he said unctuously, "one is constantly being deceived by
people in whom one has put one's trust."

"In other words, you suspect Miss Rider of robbing the firm?"

Up went Mr. Milburgh's plump hands.

"I would not say that," he said. "I would not accuse a young woman of
such an act of treachery to her employers, and I distinctly refuse to
make any charges until the auditors have completed their work. There is
no doubt," he added carefully, "that Miss Rider had the handling of large
sums of money, and she of all people in the business, and particularly in
the cashier's department would have been able to rob the firm without the
knowledge of either myself or poor Mr. Lyne. This, of course, is
confidential." He laid one hand appealingly on Tarling's arm, and that
worthy nodded.

"Have you any idea where she would be?"

Again Milburgh shook his head.

"The only thing--" he hesitated and looked into Tarling's eyes.

"Well?" asked the detective impatiently.

"There is a suggestion, of course, that she may have gone abroad. I do
not offer that suggestion, only I know that she spoke French very well
and that she had been to the Continent before."

Tarling stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"To the Continent, eh?" he said softly. "Well, in that case I shall
search the Continent; for on one thing I am determined, and that is to
find Odette Rider," and, beckoning to his companion, he turned on his
heel and left the obsequious Mr. Milbu