"That this girl, Emily, had disappeared during the night?"

"Not much of anything, sir. He was sitting at the breakfast table
reading his paper, he merely looked up, frowned a little in an
absent-minded way, and told me I must manage the servants' affairs
without troubling him."

"And you let it drop?"

"Yes sir; Mr. Blake is not a man to speak twice to."

I could easily believe that from what I had seen of him in public, for
though by no means a harsh looking man, he had a reserved air which
if maintained in private must have made him very difficult of
approach.

We were now within a half block or so of the old-fashioned mansion
regarded by this scion of New York's aristocracy as one of the most
desirable residences in the city; so motioning to the man who had
accompanied me to take his stand in a doorway near by and watch for
the signal I would give him in case I wanted Mr. Gryce, I turned to
the woman, who was now all in a flutter, and asked her how she
proposed to get me into the house without the knowledge of Mr. Blake.

"O sir, all you have got to do is to follow me right up the back
stairs; he won't notice, or if he does will not ask any questions."

And having by this time reached the basement door, she took out a key
from her pocket and inserting it in the lock, at once admitted us
into the dwelling.