"How did you keep the search-party out?" he inquired.
"I didn't. They came in, and looked into every room. For some unaccountable reason," she added ironically, "Joyce was nowhere to be found."
"Were they surprised to see you here?"
"A little. I told them you were seedy and I'd called to inquire."
The Seraph lay silent till he had gathered sufficient strength to go on talking.
"I suppose they really thought you'd been here the whole time?"
"Oh no!"
"But how else...."
"I don't know," Elsie interrupted quickly. "You must ask them who the woman was Mr. Rawnsley heard the first time he was here. They couldn't say it was me without suggesting that you and I were both compromised."
She sprinkled some scent on a handkerchief and bathed his forehead.