Thus ended Mr. Fenton's inquiries in this direction, leaving him no wiser
than when he left Lidford. He had now exhausted every possible channel by
which he might obtain information. The ground lay open before him, and
there was nothing left for him but publicity. He took an advertisement to
the _Times_ office that afternoon, and paid for six insertions in the
second column:--

"Miss MARIAN NOWELL, late of Lidford, Midlandshire, is requested
to communicate immediately with G.F., Post-office, Wigmore-street,
to whom her silence has caused extreme anxiety. She may rely upon
the advertiser's friendship and fidelity under all possible
circumstances."

Gilbert felt a little more hopeful after having done this. He fancied
this advertisement must needs bring him some tidings of his lost love.
The mystery might be happily solved after all, and Marian prove true to
him. He tried to persuade himself that this was possible; but it was very
difficult to reconcile her line of conduct with the fact of her regard
for him.

In the evening he went to the Temple, eager to see John Saltram, from
whom he had no intention to keep the secret of his trouble. He found his
friend at home, writing, with his desk pushed against the open window,
and the dust and shabbiness of his room dismally obvious in the hot July
sunshine. He started up as Gilbert entered, and the dark face grew
suddenly pale.

"You took me by surprise," he said. "I didn't know you were in England."

"I only landed two days ago," answered Gilbert, as they shook hands. "I