was an excellent valet, but a trifle domineering, something which I
never allow in any one who approaches me. I dismissed him and that was
the end of it, I know nothing of what has become of him."
Mr. Gryce bowed and drew back, and Mr. Blake, with the haughty step
peculiar to him, passed by him and reentered his house.
"I should not like to get into that man's clutches," said I, as my
superior rejoined me; "he has a way of making one appear so small."
Mr. Gryce shot an askance look at his shadow gloomily following him
along the pavement. "Yet it may happen that you will have to run the
risk of that very experience."
I glanced towards him in amazement.
"If the girl does not turn up of her own accord, or if we do not succeed
in getting some trace of her movements, I shall be tempted to place you
where you can study into the ways of this gentleman's household. If the
affair is a mystery, it has its centre in that house."
I stared at Mr. Gryce good and roundly. "You have come across
something which I have missed," observed I, "or you could not speak so
positively."
"I have come across nothing that was not in plain sight of any body who
had eyes to see it," he returned shortly.
I shook my head slightly mortified.
"You had it all before you," continued he, "and if you were not able
to pick up sufficient facts on which to base a conclusion, you mustn't
blame me for it."
More nettled than I would be willing to confess, I walked back with
him to the station, saying nothing then, but inwardly determined to
reestablish my reputation with Mr. Gryce before the affair was over.
Accordingly hunting up the man who had patrolled the district the night
before, I inquired if he had seen any one go in or out of the side gate
of Mr. Blake's house on ----- street, between the hours of eleven and
one.
"No," said he, "but I heard Thompson tell a curious story this morning
about some one he had seen."
"What was it?"
"He said he was passing that way last night about twelve o'clock when he
remarked standing under the lamp on the corner of Second Avenue, a group
consisting of two men and a woman, who no sooner beheld him than they
separated, the men drawing back into Second Avenue and the woman coming
hastily towards him. Not understanding the move, he stood waiting her
approach, when instead of advancing to where he was, she paused at the

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