"What did you give her?" I asked.
"Only a card," he said, "with an address in London, to which she could write to me if she felt inclined. I told her that I had never seen a lady I admired so much, and that I hoped she would give me the opportunity of becoming friends with her. In an honorable way--oh, quite in an honorable way!" he added, with a laugh.
"And what are you leaving her for now?" I inquired.
"Because I know where Mr. Eustace Rutland is to be found," he replied. "It will take two or three hours to get to the place, and I suppose it is best to lose no time."
"Decidedly the best," I said "but how about Ida White?"
"She is safe enough. My men are all around her. She won't be left for an instant, wherever she may go. The gentleman I entered into conversation with in the train was one of my fellows. You are a great lawyer, sir, but I think I could teach you something."
"I have no doubt you could. Where does Eustace Rutland live?"
"In Croydon, at some distance from the station."
We did not reach Croydon until past six o'clock, and it was nearly another hour before we arrived at the address which Fowler had received.
"That is the house, sir," he said, pointing to it. "It doesn't look very flourishing."