"No," said Villiers, "I wrote to Clarke, but he remains
obdurate, and I have tried other channels, but without any
result. I can't find out what became of Helen Vaughan after she
left Paul Street, but I think she must have gone abroad. But to
tell the truth, Austin, I haven't paid much attention to the
matter for the last few weeks; I knew poor Herries intimately,
and his terrible death has been a great shock to me, a great
shock."

"I can well believe it," answered Austin gravely, "you
know Argentine was a friend of mine. If I remember rightly, we
were speaking of him that day you came to my rooms."

"Yes; it was in connection with that house in Ashley
Street, Mrs. Beaumont's house. You said something about
Argentine's dining there."

"Quite so. Of course you know it was there Argentine
dined the night before--before his death."

"No, I had not heard that."

"Oh, yes; the name was kept out of the papers to spare
Mrs. Beaumont. Argentine was a great favourite of hers, and it
is said she was in a terrible state for sometime after."

A curious look came over Villiers' face; he seemed
undecided whether to speak or not. Austin began again.