"'I will be punctual.'
"'I ought to tell you before you go,' she said, in a low tone, 'that the name I gave at the police station is not my own. I was justified in giving a false name; otherwise the knowledge of my--my disgrace might have reached my daughter.'
"'You use a wrong term,' said our reporter, 'no disgrace whatever attaches to you. Good-by till this evening.'
"He shook hands with her and walked briskly away. He had nothing of importance to attend to in the office of the Evening Moon, but he was expected to present himself there, and it was necessary that he should arrange to have the afternoon and evening free. This being settled, he turned toward Gerard Street, with the intention of calling upon Mrs. Middlemore, to ascertain whether anything fresh had transpired. He knocked vainly at the door, however, Mrs. Middlemore was not in the house. At the bottom of Gerard Street he encountered Sophy.
"'Ah, Sophy,' he said, 'I have just been to your house.'
"''Ave yer?' said Sophy, sidling up to him. 'Aunty ain't at 'ome.'
"'So I discovered. Where is she?'
"'At the perlice station,' answered the girl.
"'Anything wrong?'
"'I don't know.'