"I too, sir. She is our first and only care. You have no theory to account for her absence?"
"None, Felix."
"Her hat and cloak are gone," said Felix, following out a train of thought as he spoke. "That is a proof that she went from the house with deliberate intentions. We must not rest until we find her--that's understood."
"Yes, yes, Felix; go on."
"The first thing to ascertain is if anybody is at home at Mr. Musgrave's house. I will run round and see."
Felix returned in a very short time.
"No one is there; the house is quite deserted. There is some connection between Lily's absence and theirs. The only thing I cannot understand is that Lily did not leave a line of writing behind, in explanation. She knows what deep anxiety her absence would cause."
"Felix," said the old man, in a low tone, "can there have been some foul play?"
Felix did not reply for a few moments; he was mentally busy deciding on the best course of action.
"If there is, we will find it out, depend upon it, sir. I have a clue. I learnt at the station that a passenger from Epsom gave a porter a shilling to take a letter to Lizzie. That letter either came from Alfred or Mr. Musgrave, and upon the receipt of that letter Lizzie has disappeared."