"That governess helped him, as sure as you're born, Mr. Daly."
Hawthorne said, hurriedly:
"You may call me by another name henceforward—that of Hawthorne. I confess that Daly was an assumed one. And now, about this governess?"
"Yes, there's no time to lose, Mr. Hawthorne, in beating about the bush. That poor girl has been missing for two weeks, and God only knows what has come to her ere now. We must see this Erroll woman at once, and surprise her into confession by taxing her with the crime."
"A clever idea. Let us confront her at once," cried Hawthorne, with burning impatience.
"I'm with you to the death!" laughed the jovial little detective, springing to his feet, and within the hour they arrived at the mansion, and sent their cards to Miss Errol.
They had chosen Cissy Carroll to bear them, and the governess looked at her, pale with affright.
"I do not know these men, Hawthorne and Norris. I cannot see them," she declared at first.
But Cissy was firm.
"You must go down. They said their business was important, and they would not leave without seeing you," she said.