"My dear Winn," he said, "I think I am right in saying that there is no one who wishes more to see you happily married than myself." The Earl paused. "And surely," he added, "with your reputation there should be no difficulty in achieving this end."
Winn shook his head slowly. The Earl glanced across at him, and for a moment their eyes met.
"Why not tell me?" said the Earl, gently.
Winn appeared to hesitate for a moment.
"You are very kind," he said at length. "It began when we were boy and girl——" He stopped, for the Earl's cigar dropped through his fingers to the ground, and he stooped to pick it up.
"Yes?" said the Earl, in a low tone. He was thinking of the disappointment in store for his daughter.
"She was the daughter of a country vicar under whose care I had been placed," continued Winn. "Then, I was suddenly thrown on my own resources, and there came the chance of my going to South Africa. We parted, and I vowed that I would come back to claim her.
"The day after I returned," he went on, speaking slowly, "I made my way down to the old place. I found the vicar dead—and she gone. I have searched everywhere, but can find no trace of her."
He rose to his feet.
"But I shall find her, I shall find her!" he said, and his voice had the same confident ring as when he uttered the words that night at Winchmere.