"You certainly seem very well acquainted with my movements, Mrs. Petre," I laughed.
But she only shrugged her shoulders. Then she said:
"I suppose there was no secrecy regarding your journey, was there?"
"Not in the least," I replied. "I had business over there, as I very often have. My firm do a big business in Belgium and Holland."
She smiled incredulously.
"Did your business necessitate your visiting all the hotels and music-halls?"
"How did you know that?" I asked in quick surprise.
But she only pursed her lips, refusing to give me satisfaction. I saw that I must have been watched—perhaps by Digby himself. The only explanation I could think of was that he, with his clever cunning, had watched me, and had written to this woman, his accomplice, telling her of my search.
"Oh! don't betray the source of your information if you consider it so indiscreet," I said with sarcasm a few moments later. "I came here, Mrs. Petre, in response to your invitation. You wished to see me?"
"I did. But I fear it is now too late to avert what I had intended," was her quiet response. The door was closed, the room was silent, and we were alone.