"Why?"

"Because Lord Calliston is away yachting, and Miss Sarschine is with him."

"Oh, indeed!"

Dowker was beginning to feel rather nonplussed as he was now at a loss for an excuse for his presence, so he tried another plan.

"Do you read the papers?" he asked sharply.

"Sometimes; not often," said the woman, somewhat taken aback. "Why do you ask?"

"I have particular reasons for the question."

"I am not bound to answer your question. May I ask your name?"

"Dowker--detective."

The woman started at this and looked a little curiously at him.