"That makes me feel stronger," she said, reviving.
"Mrs. Colville," he said, "you must be mistaken. I have searched the house carefully through, and there is not another living soul here beside yourself."
"Oh, then she has either escaped again or they have removed her to another place," was the confident reply.
"Are you quite sure the lady was ever imprisoned in this house, Mrs. Colville?"
"Oh, I am perfectly sure of that, sir. She occupied the room above me for some time. My groans troubled her so that she sought for me and found me here in my misery."
"And she told you that she was your husband's prisoner?"
"Yes, sir," answered poor Fanny, sighing. "I had her whole sad story from her own sweet lips."
"Was she a New York lady?" inquired the detective, evincing a deep interest.
"Yes, sir, and the daughter of a wealthy man."
"If you feel equal to the task I wish you would tell me all you know about the lady. I am deeply interested in her fate," said he very gently, though he was burning with impatience to learn more of Colville's mysterious prisoner.