he was accompanied by a pale-faced woman dressed in black, obviously
a maid.

"Monsieur Laverick," she said, "Mademoiselle Idiale will receive
you. If you will come this way?"

She opened the door of the little reception-room, and Laverick
followed her. The man returned to his place in the hall.

"Madame will be here in a moment," the maid said. "She will be glad
to see you, but she has been very badly frightened."

Laverick bowed sympathetically. The woman herself was gray-faced,
terror-stricken.

"It is Monsieur Lassen, the manager of Madame, who has caused a
great deal of trouble here," she said. "Madame never trusted him
and now we have discovered that he is a spy."

The woman seemed to fade away. The door of the inner room was
opened and Louise came out. She was still exceedingly pale, and
there were dark rims under her eyes. She came across the room with
outstretched hands. There was no doubt whatever as to her pleasure.

"You have seen Mr. Bellamy?" she asked.

Laverick shook his head.

"No, I have seen nothing of Bellamy to-day. I came to call upon
you this afternoon."