acquaintance between the two.

Might not Patty Ringrose be able and willing to solve for him the
riddle of Eve's existence? But he had no idea where Patty lived. He
recalled her words in Gower Street: "You _are_ going it, Eve!" and
they stirred miserable doubts; yet something more than mere hope
inclined him to believe that the girl's life was innocent. Her look,
her talk reassured him; so did her friendship with such a person as
the ingenuous Patty. On learning that he dwelt close by her she gave
no sign of an uneasy conscience.

In any case, the contrast between her actual life and that suggested
by Mrs. Brewer's talk about her was singular enough. It supplied him
with a problem of which the interest would not easily be exhausted.
But he must pursue the study with due regard to honour and delicacy;
he would act the spy no more. As Eve had said, they were pretty sure
to meet before long; if his patience failed it was always possible
for him to write a letter.

Four days went by and he saw nothing of her. On the fifth, as he was
walking homeward in the afternoon, he came face to face with Miss
Madeley in Gower Street. She stopped at once, and offered a friendly
hand.

"Will you let me walk a little way with you?" he asked.

"Certainly. I'm just going to change a book at Mudie's." She carried
a little handbag. "I suppose you have been going about London a
great deal? Don't the streets look beautiful at this time of the
year?"