“Very little, M’sieu Blaine. Yesterday the president of the Street Railways, M’sieu Mallowe, called on the minister, and remained for more than an hour. I could not hear their conversation––they were in the library; but just as M’sieu Mallowe was taking his departure I passed through the hall, and heard him say:
“‘You must try to persuade her, Mr. Franklin; you have more influence over her than anyone else, even I. Miss Lawton must really go away for a time. It is the only thing that will save her health, her reason! She can do nothing here to aid in the search for young Hamilton, and the suspense is killing her. Try to get her to take our advice and go away, if only for a few days.’”
“What did Dr. Franklin reply?”
“I did not hear it all. I could not linger in the hall without arousing suspicion. Dr. Franklin agreed that Miss Lawton was ill and should go away, and he said he would try to induce her to go––that M’sieu Mallowe was undoubtedly right, and he was delighted that he took such an interest in Miss Lawton.”
She paused, and after a moment Blaine asked:
“And that is all?”
“Yes, m’sieu.” The French girl half turned as if to take her departure, but he stayed her by a gesture.
“You have nothing else to report? How about Paddington?” He shot the question at her tersely, his eyes never leaving her face, but she did not flinch.
“M’sieu Paddington?” she repeated demurely. “I have nothing to tell you of him.”
“You didn’t try, then, to lead him on, as I suggested––to get him to talk about Miss Lawton, or the people who were employing him? You have not seen him?” 209