Blake looked surprised, but he immediately stepped to
the door and shut it. Then coming back, he looked at Mr. Gryce more
closely and a change took place in his manner.
"I think I have seen you before," said he.
Mr. Gryce bowed with just the suspicion of a smile. "I have had the
honor of consulting you before in this very house," observed he.
A look of full recognition passed over the dignified countenance of
the man before us.
"I remember," said he, shrugging his shoulders in the old way. "You
are interested in some servant girl or other who ran away from this
house a week or so ago. Have you found her?" This with no apparent
concern.
"We think we have," rejoined Mr. Gryce with some solemnity. "The
river gives up its prey now and then, Mr. Blake."
Still only that look of natural surprise.
"Indeed! You do not mean to say she has drowned herself? I am sorry
for that, a girl who had once lived in my house. What trouble could
she have had to drive her to such an act?"
Mr. Gryce advanced a step nearer the gentleman.
"That is what we have come here to learn," said he with a deliberation
that yet was not lacking in the respect due to a man so universally
esteemed as Mr. Blake. "You who have seen her so lately ought to be
able to throw some light upon the subject at least.
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