"As beautiful as your mother--in her time the most beautiful creature in
the world--her image, a flawless reproduction, even to her colouring, the
shade of the hair, the eyes--so like the sea!"

"I am glad," the girl repeated, nervously.

"And until to-night I did not know you lived!"

She mustered up courage enough to ask: "How--?"

The heavy lids drooped lower over the illegible eyes. "My attention was
called to a newspaper advertisement signed by a firm of solicitors. I got
in touch with them--a matter of some difficulty, since it was after
business hours--and found out where to look for you. Then, prevented from
acting as quickly as I wished, myself, I sent Karslake here to bring you to
me."

"But, according to their letter, the solicitors thought I was in France, in
a convent!"

"When they advertised for me--yes. But by the time I enquired they were
better informed."

"But the advertisement was addressed to Michael Lanyard!"

The thin lips formed a faint smile. "That was once my name. I no longer use
it."

Against a feeling that she was adopting an attitude both undutiful and