“No, I do not know that she has an enemy in the world.”
The detective mused a moment, then exclaimed:
“Sometimes love can be as cruel as hate. I wonder if the beautiful young girl had a rejected lover?”
He started when he was answered in the affirmative.
“Ah, perhaps I am getting on the right track now! Where is this man? Who is he?”
“He is the manager of the company in which Miss Vane was the leading lady. His name is Willis Weston, and he may be seen every night on the boards of the Olympia Theater.”
“Ah-h, then I have seen him already! A clever actor and a handsome man, on or off the stage. Perhaps this may give me a clew. I shall look into his past, and in the meantime, sir, as soon as the young lady can safely give me an interview, please let me know, for surely she may be able to throw some light on the darkness of this mysterious case.”
He bowed himself out, and Charley was about to leave the room also when he was startled by the appearance of Miss Montague’s maid, Suzette. She curtsied, and said:
“My mistress begins to feel a little better, sir, and would be pleased to see you for a while in her boudoir.”
“I will come at once,” he replied, following the maid in his eagerness to be off with the old love, but saying to himself humorously: