He was putting on his overcoat as he spoke, in readiness for setting out, but before he had buttoned it a constable entered with a card.
"Wants to see you particularly, and at once," he said. "Waiting outside."
"Bring him in—straight!" answered Matherfield. He pushed the card along his desk in Hetherwick's direction. "Lord Morradale!" he exclaimed. "Who's he?"
"The man who's engaged to Madame Listorelle," replied Hetherwick, in an undertone. "Hampshire magnate."
Matherfield turned expectantly to the open door. A shortish, stoutish person, who looked more like a typical City man, prosperous and satisfied, came hustling in and gave Hetherwick and his companion a sharp, inquiring glance which finally settled on Matherfield.
"Mr. Matherfield?" he asked. "Just so! I'm Lord Morradale—oh, of course, I sent in my card—just so! Well, Mr. Matherfield, I've had an extraordinary communication from Lady Riversreade. She telephoned to my house in Hill Street this morning, but I was down in the City, and didn't hear of her message till late this afternoon. She says her sister, Madame Listorelle, has been kidnapped! Kidnapped—preposterous!"
"I'm afraid it's neither preposterous nor improbable, my lord," answered Matherfield. "I'm quite sure Madame Listorelle has been kidnapped, and Lady Riversreade's secretary, Miss Featherstone, with her. I've been down at Riversreade Court most of the day, and there's no doubt about it—the two ladies were carried off from there by three men in a fast car, which was driven towards London. That's a fact!"
"God bless my soul!" exclaimed Lord Morradale. "In broad daylight! Twentieth century, too! And is there no clue?"
"None so far, my lord. Of course, we've noised the affair as much as possible, and all our people are on the look out. But it's a difficult case," continued Matherfield. "The probability is that the ladies have been rushed to some house in London and that they're there in captivity. Of course, one theory is that the kidnappers took Madame Listorelle for her sister. They meant to get Lady Riversreade and hold her to ransom."
Lord Morradale pursed his lips. Then he rubbed his chin. Then he shook his head. Finally he gave Hetherwick a shrewd glance, eyeing him from head to foot.