It took but little conversation for the detective to learn that the young man was desperately in love with the pretty little girl. This gave the experienced man of the world food for thought.
He did not tell young Varrick how interested he himself was in learning the whereabouts of that pretty young girl.
After an hour or more of earnest conversation, they parted, Byrne agreeing to report what success he met at the hotel at which Hubert Varrick said he intended stopping.
Up to midnight, when they again met, Byrne could give him no definite information; he did not even tell him that he thought he had a slight clew which he intended to follow.
Thus three days passed, and not even the slightest trace of Jessie Bain could be discovered, and Hubert was beside himself with grief.
In the midst of his trouble a strange event happened.
As he was passing through the lobby of the hotel one evening, he met Harry Maillard, Gerelda Northrup's cousin.
Varrick turned quickly in an opposite direction, to avoid speaking to him, when suddenly Maillard came forward and held out his hand to him.
"I am glad to see you, old boy," he said, "and have been wondering where you kept yourself of late."
"I have been attending to business pretty closely," returned Varrick.