“Yes, we start for Mürren a week before Christmas for the winter sports. I was so looking forward to it, but now——” The girl’s voice faltered and she could not finish her sentence.
“I quite understand,” said Mr. Lane soothingly. “All the same it will be better for you to get away for a time from these painful associations. I will, of course, keep in touch with you to the day of your departure, and communicate to you anything of importance. If you don’t hear from me, you will know that so far I have nothing to tell you. You will, of course, acquaint Mr. Morrice with the rather puzzling information about the man Thomas, that while the finger-prints are undoubtedly his, he is and has been for the last two years in prison.”
It all seemed very hopeless, she thought, as she rose to leave. It was useless to ask Lane if he had formed any theory; she had seen enough of the man to know that he would not say a word till he felt himself justified in speaking.
“One little thing before you go, Miss Sheldon. Will you kindly let me know your aunt’s maiden name, and, if you possess them, any particulars of her family.”
Rosabelle did not know much beyond the fact that she was a Miss Larchester; that her sister, no longer living, the mother of Archie Brookes, had married a younger brother of Sir George. She was not quite sure but she fancied that, as a girl, Mrs. Morrice’s home had been in Sussex, but she did not know in what part. The lady very seldom alluded to her past life. Her Christian name was Lettice.
Mr. Lane entered the scanty information in his notebook, then, after Rosabelle’s departure, he rang up White’s Club and inquired for a Mr. Sellars. In a few moments this gentleman was speaking to him.
“Good-day, Mr. Sellars. I should be obliged if you would come round to me as soon as convenient.”
The reply was that the owner of the name would at once put himself in a taxi and be there in a few minutes.
CHAPTER VI
LANE ENGAGES AN ASSISTANT
Mr. Sellars, Reggie Sellars as he was known to his intimates, was a tall, good-looking young man of about thirty, of the aristocratic type, with aquiline features and an elegant figure. Following no settled occupation or profession, he formed one of that numerous brigade of men-about-town who belong to good clubs, frequent respectable society and always seem to have plenty of money for their personal wants, although nobody knows the exact source of their incomes, or how they contrive to present such a good appearance.