"Yes, my good man, I am Mrs. Villiers."
"If you please, ma'am, I am Saunders, one of the porters at the Union Club."
"I remember: has any message come there? or does Mr. Villiers owe you any money?" and her purse was in her hand.
"O no, ma'am. Mr. Villiers is a good gentleman; and he has been petiklar generous to me—and that is why I come, because I am afraid," continued the man, lowering his tone, "that he is in danger."
"Good heavens! Where? how?" cried Ethel, starting from her chair. "Tell me at once."
"Yes, ma'am, I will; so you must know that this evening—"
"Yes, this evening. What has happened? he left me at six o'clock—what is it?"
"Nothing, I hope, this evening, ma'am. I am only afraid for to-morrow morning. And I will tell you all I know, as quick as ever I can."
The man then proceeded to relate, that some one had been inquiring about Mr. Villiers at the Club House. One of the servants had told him that he lived in Duke Street, St. James's, and that was all he knew; but Saunders came up, and the man questioned him. He instantly recognized the fellow, and knew what his business must be. And he tried to deceive him, and declared that Mr. Villiers was gone out of town; but the fellow said that he knew better than that; and that he had been seen that very day in the Strand. He should look for him, no thanks to Saunders, in Duke Street. "And so, ma'am, you see they'll be sure to be here early to-morrow morning. So don't let Mr. Villiers stay here, on no account whatsomever."
"Why?" asked Ethel, simply; "they can't hurt him."