"Puzzling. Disordered state of the nerves," said Barry, frowning.
Lyon laughed. "Don't put on professional airs with me."
"That's straight. It looks very much like nervous shock. I don't at all approve of her seeing visitors."
"Then why don't you forbid it?" fished Lyon with curiosity.
"I'm too young and she's too important," laughed Barry as he jumped into the runabout. "I haven't the nerve to give orders to the wife of a multimillionaire." And he drove rapidly off.
Lyon rang the bell with a feeling of exhilaration. He was making progress.
"While the neat servant who answered his ring took his card to Miss Elliott, Lyon waited in the reception room and hastily reviewed his facts. The wife of a multimillionaire traveling incog., and suffering from nervous shock. How could he surprise Miss Elliott into giving him her name? In a few minutes Miss Elliott stood before him, looking from his card to him with a severe and discouraging air. It was an air which Lyon had encountered before when pursuing the elusive interview.
"I am not here in my professional capacity," he said with a disarming smile. "I wanted to make some personal inquiries about your school in behalf of a friend in Cleveland."
Miss Elliott softened. "This is not a very good time to see the school," she said. "This is the Thanksgiving vacation, you know, and the pupils and teachers have all gone home."
"I didn't think of that. When did they go?"