"When did she come?"

"Three days ago."

"What is No. 717?"

"Two bedrooms, a parlour, and a bath."

"I should like to know if she has had callers, and who they are; also,
if the house detective knows anything of her movements?"

"One moment, sir," said Banks--

"And you might inquire also," Harleston added, "as to the bald-headed
man who is her companion this evening?"

"Very good, sir," said Banks, and went out.

"I tell you there are quite too many women in this affair," Harleston
muttered--and went back to inspecting the chart.

And the more he inspected, the more hopeless grew his task. If Mrs.
Clephane had been lured to one of the rooms, it would be next to
impossible to find her. There were a hundred well-dressed and
quiet-mannered guests who seemed beyond suspicion; and yet it was in the
room of one of these unobtrusive guests, who had never so much as looked
at Mrs. Spencer, that Mrs. Clephane was held prisoner. There was small
hope--none, indeed--that a search of Madeline Spencer's apartment would
yield even a clue. She was not such a bungler; though that she was the
directing spirit in the entire affair he had not the least doubt. Her