“No, sir, never!” said Mrs. Lord emphatically. “I often have wondered at that. She has no mail, nor appears to have any friends, except Mr. Gordon. He frequently has brought her home from his office, but he never came in.”
“Did she go out evenings?”
“Yes, occasionally. But she always returned at a reasonable hour, and always alone.”
“I wish to inspect her room, Mrs. Lord,” said Nick. “This is a very serious matter, or I would not make the request.”
“If all you have told me is true, sir, I cannot consistently refuse,” was the reply. “I will show you the way.”
Both Nick and Patsy followed her upstairs and into an attractively furnished front chamber.
“Everything is in order, Mr. Carter, but I have deferred sweeping and cleaning the room until the day before I expected Miss Perrot to return,” she said, when they entered.
“We will disturb nothing,” Nick replied. “Has she sent away all of her garments?”
“I cannot say, Mr. Carter. I have not looked.”
“I will do so, then, with your permission,” Nick remarked.