"To what purport?" inquired Mr. Scott.
"You offered fifty pounds reward," I replied, "for information concerning a young lady."
A gleam of intelligence and gratification flickered upon both their faces, but quickly faded away into a sober and blank gravity. Mr. Scott waited for me to speak again, and bowed silently, as if to intimate he was all attention.
"I came," I added, "to ask you for the name and address of that young lady's friends, as I should prefer communicating directly with them, with a view to cooperation in the discovery of her hiding-place. I need scarcely say I have no wish to receive any reward. I entirely waive any claim to that, if you will oblige me by putting me into connection with the family."
"Have you no information you can impart to us?" asked Mr. Scott.
"None," I answered, decisively. "It is some months since I saw the advertisement, and it must be nine months since you put it into the Times. I believe it is nine months since the young lady was missing."
"About that time," he said.
"Her friends must have suffered great anxiety," I remarked.
"Very great indeed," he admitted.
"If I could render them any service, it would be a great pleasure to me," I continued; "cannot you tell me where to find them?"