"I cannot say, I never asked her to talk about herself. She came to me
for work and I liked her and took her without recommendation."

"And she has served you well?"

"Excellently."

"Been out much? Had any visitors?"

She shook her head. "Never went out and never had any visitors."

I own I was nonplussed, "Well," said I, "no more of this at present. I
must first find out if she left this house alone or in company with
others." And without further parley I stepped out upon the roof of the
extension.

As I did so I debated with myself whether the case warranted me or not
in sending for Mr. Gryce. As yet there was nothing to show that the
girl had come to any harm. A mere elopement with or without a lover
to help her, was not such a serious matter that the whole police force
need be stirred up on the subject; and if the woman had money, as she
said, ready to give the man who should discover the whereabouts of
this girl, why need that money be divided up any more than was
necessary. Yet Gryce was not one to be dallied with. He had said,
send for him if the affair seemed to call for his judgment, and
somehow the affair did promise to be a trifle complicated. I was yet
undetermined when I reached the edge of the roof.

It was a dizzy descent, but once made, escape from the yard beneath
would be easy. A man could take that road without difficulty; but a