Immediately a smothered exclamation struck our ears, and Mrs. Daniels
started forward.

"I pray, gentlemen," she entreated, advancing in such a way as to
place herself against the front of the bureau in a manner to preclude
the opening of any more drawers, "that you will remember that a
modest woman such as this girl was, would hardly like to have her
clothing displayed before the eyes of strangers."

Mr. Gryce instantly closed the drawer.

"You are right," said he; "pardon the rough ways of a somewhat
hardened officer of the law."

She drew up closer to the bureau, still protecting it with her meagre
but energetic form while her eyes rested with almost a savage
expression upon the master of the house as if he, and not the
detective, had been the aggressor whose advances she feared.

Mr. Blake did not return the look.

"If that is all you can show me, I think I will proceed to my
appointment," said he. "The matter does seem to be more serious than
I thought, and if you judge it necessary to take any active measures,
why, let no consideration of my great and inherent dislike to
notoriety of any kind, interfere with what you consider your duty. As
for the house, it is at your command, under Mrs. Daniels' direction.
Good morning." And returning our bows with one singularly impressive
for all its elegant carelessness, he at once withdrew.