By the bye," he continued, a little diffidently, "did it strike you last night that Miss Delora must have been associated with that blackguard Louis in his little attempt upon me ?" "I do not believe anything of the sort!" I answered shortly.
The young man smiled cynically.
"It is perhaps natural," he answered.
"You are not seriously suggesting," I asked, "that a young lady in the position of Miss Delora would descend to scheming with a head-waiter ?" "Captain Rotherby," my companion said, "I do not know anything.

I do not understand anything.

I only know that the Delora business has puzzled me,--has puzzled my chief.

We have important communications for Mr.Delora, and he cannot be found." "It is not possible," I declared, "for a man to disappear in London." "A man may disappear anywhere," Lamartine said dryly, "when such people as Louis are interested in him! However, we do no good by comparing notes when we neither of us know anything.

If I should gain any information of Mr.Delora's whereabouts--" I gave him my card quickly.
"We will exchange our news," I assured him.