The banker returned to his counting-room with renewed hope and vigor. The impenetrable darkness that had hovered over Lily's disappearance so long seemed to be lifting at last and a gleam of light shone through the little rift in the clouds.
[CHAPTER XXII.]
Mr. Shelton spoke truly when he said to Mr. Lawrence that he would shadow Harold Colville like a bloodhound.
By day and by night, on foot or on horseback, in various disguises, he kept himself on the track of the fine gentleman.
For several weeks he kept up this close espionage, but at the end of that time he seemed no nearer his object than when it was first begun.
Mr. Colville's comings and goings seemed to be quite the same with those of other gentlemen of his means and position.
He frequented theaters and gaming-houses; he was a welcome and much sought-for partner in ball-rooms, and was smiled upon by scheming mothers with marriageable daughters.
Thus far Mr. Shelton had seen nothing on which to seize as a possible clew to Mr. Colville's mysterious presence in Mr. Lawrence's house the night of Lily's appearance.
Mr. Shelton had made one discovery, however, though he did not begin to attach much importance to it. It was that Doctor Pratt and Harold Colville were acquainted with each other, and, moreover, that they sometimes "hunted in couples."