"What the other young lady couldn't understand," continued the porter, and Van Ingen's heart gave a leap, "was, why——"
"Why she hadn't wired her, eh?" he asked. "Well, you see, she was so busy——"
"Of course!" The porter clucked his lips impatiently.
"She's upstairs in Miss Dominguez' flat at this moment. My word, she's been horribly worried——"
"I'll go up and see her. As a matter of fact, I've come here for the purpose," said Van Ingen quickly.
He took the lift to the second floor, and walked along the corridor. He reached No. 43 and his hand was raised to press the little electric bell of the suite when the door opened quickly and a girl stepped out. She gave a startled cry as she saw the stranger, and drew back.
"I beg your pardon," said Van Ingen, with a pleasant smile. "I'm afraid I startled you."
She was a big florid girl with a certain awkwardness of movement.
"Well-dressed but gauche," thought Van Ingen. "Provincial! she'll talk."
"I was a little startled," she said, with a ready smile. "I thought it was the postman."