"Mr. Curtiss is naturally anxious," I began, "to find Miss Lawrence and to hear from her own lips the reason for her flight. He even thinks he has a certain right to know that reason. I'm trying to find where Miss Lawrence is."
"And why do you come here?" she asked with compressed lips.
"Because," I answered boldly, "I believe that Miss Lawrence came here when she left her home. She went first into the library, where she sat for a while until she decided what to do; then she opened the library window, descended from the balcony, and ran here along the path which leads through the trees to that gate out yonder. You received her and refused to allow any one to see her."
"I refused to allow the reporters to see her!" she cried. "Surely, you would have done as much!"
"Yes," I said, repressing as well as I could the sudden burst of triumph which glowed within me. "Yes—perhaps I should. But you'll not refuse me?"
She smiled grimly.
"That was cleverly done, Mr. Lester," she said. "Fortunately it's no longer a question of my consent or refusal."
"Miss Lawrence isn't here?"
"No; Miss Lawrence left here late last night."
"And went——"