They were often seen talking together in quiet corners--and some of the old maids and eligible widows were already saying that Miss Slade was setting her cap at Mr.Rayner's evident deep purse.
Ambler Appleyard went to bed that night wondering greatly about two matters--first, why Miss Slade was Miss Slade in Bayswater and Mrs.
Marlow at Fullaway's office; second, if Miss Slade or Mrs.Marlow, whichever she really was, had any secrets with the mysterious Mr.
Rayner.

From that he got to wondering who Rayner really was, and what his business was.

And this process of speculation began again next morning, and continued all the way to the Gresham Street warehouse, and by the time he had arrived there he had half-determined to find out more about Miss Slade than was known to him up to then--and also, since he appeared to be such great friends with Miss Slade, about Mr.
Gerald Rayner.
"But how ?" he mused as he ran up the steps to the warehouse.

"I'm not a private detective, and I don't propose to employ one.

If I knew some sharp fellow--" Just then he caught sight of Gaffney, who sat on a bale of goods within the warehouse door, holding a note in his hand.