"He did promise to meet me to-night. He hasn't kept his promise. I don't understand why. To be plain with you, it rather troubles me.
"He promised to meet you?"
"He did most faithfully."
"And you have received no intimation from him to the effect that he was not coming?"
"Not a word--not a line!"
"Then he may be here at any moment. Something has unexpectedly delayed him. You are acquainted with him sufficiently well to be aware that had anything occurred to cause him to alter his plans, he would immediately have let you know. Your informant was wrong. I have had inquiries made for him everywhere in town, and as a result have good reason to believe that he is in Brighton."
"What is the news of which you were speaking?"
"Has Cyril said nothing to you about the Trumpit Gold Mine?"
"He referred to it casually the night before last in his usual strain, as having been the cause of his destruction."
"That really is extraordinary. I confess I do not understand it. It is so unlike Cyril to have communicated neither with you nor with me. Are you sure that he said nothing more?"