“Hope? Oh yes! There is plenty of hope. In the first place I would urge you to lose no time in searching after your uncle.”

“I shall do so. Will you see to it?”

“I will do all that I can. You wish me, of course, to act in connection with Lieutenant Dudleigh.”

“Of course.”

“I will begin at once. And now I must go.”

The lawyer put his memoranda back in the wallet, restoring the latter to his pocket, and took his hat.

“But must I remain a prisoner here?” cried Edith. “Is there no law to free me—none whatever? After all, I am a British subject, and I have always understood that in England no one can be imprisoned without a trial.”

“You are a ward, Miss Dalton, and guardians can control their wards, as parents control children.”

“But parents can not control children who are of age.”

{Illustration: “SUCH MISS DALTON, IS THE LAW!”}