“It does seem peculiar, doesn’t it?” laughed Lord Ashley pleasantly, “but that is precisely what I am about to explain to you. There is a matter regarding which you can, perhaps, furnish me with some information—information which has only an indirect bearing, no doubt, but which may possibly be of some value to His Majesty’s Government.”
“Indeed? To what does this matter relate?”
“It is connected with the recent disappearance of Captain Stanley Mortimer.”
Dorothy started and perceptibly changed color.
“You astonish me!” she exclaimed. “In what way can I possibly assist you in this?”
“You remember the occasion of the last Court ball?” asked Lord Ashley.
“Yes.”
“That night was also the occasion of the wounding of Captain Swords and of the disappearance of Captain Mortimer, as you will recall.”
“Yes.”
“The last known appearance in public of Captain Mortimer,” continued Lord Ashley, “was at the ball, where he had the honor of dancing with you.”