Daniels who had entered behind me.
"This is Mr. Blake's room," said she with dignity; "no one ever
intrudes here but myself, not even the servants."
"I beg pardon," said I, glancing around in vain for the something
which had awakened that look of satisfaction in Mr. Gryce's eyes. "I
was attracted by the beauty of this picture visible through the half
open door and stepped in to favor myself with a nearer view. It is
very lovely. A sister of Mr. Blake?"
"No, his cousin;" and she closed the door after us with an emphasis
that proclaimed she was anything but pleased.
It was my last effort to obtain information on my own account. In a
few moments later Mr. Gryce appeared from below, and a conversation
ensued with Mrs. Daniels that absorbed my whole attention.
"You are very anxious, my man here tells me, that this girl should be
found?" remarked Mr. Gryce; "so much so that you are willing to
defray all the expenses of a search?"
She bowed. "As far as I am able sir; I have a few hundreds in the
bank, you are welcome to them. I would not keep a dollar back if I
had thousands, but I am poor, and can only promise you what I myself
possess; though--" and her cheeks grew flushed and hot with an
unnatural agitation--"I believe that thousands would not be lacking
if they were found necessary.
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