Did you speak sir?" asked Mr. Gryce suddenly stopping, with a sly
look at his left boot tip.
Mr. Blake shook his head. "No," said he shortly, "go on." But that
last remark of Mr. Gryce had evidently made its impression.
"Inquiry revealed, also, two or three other interesting facts. First,
that this gentleman qualified though he was to shine in ladies'
society, never obtruded himself there, but employed his leisure time
instead, in walking the lower streets of the city, where he was seen
more than once conversing with certain poor girls at street corners
and in blind alleys. The last one he talked with, believed from her
characteristics to be the same one that was abducted from his
house--"
"Hold there," said Mr. Blake with some authority in his tone, "there
you are mistaken; that is impossible."
"Ah, and why?"
"The girl you allude to had bright golden hair, something which the
woman who lived in my house did not possess."
"Indeed. I thought you had never noticed the woman who sewed for you,
sir,--did not know how she looked?"
"I should have noticed her if she had had such hair as the girl you
speak of."
Mr. Gryce smiled and opened his pocketbook.
"There is a sample of her hair, sir," said he, taking out a thin
strand of brilliant hair and showing it to the gentleman before him.
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