been phenomenal, he had attained to a certain knowledge of human
nature. He was able, at any rate, to realise that this woman was
no imposter. He knew that she had vital things to say.

They passed into the tea-shop and found an empty corner. Ledsam
hung up his hat and gave an order. The woman slowly began to
remove her gloves. When she pushed back her veil, her vis-a-vis
received almost a shock. She was quite as good-looking as he had
imagined, but she was far younger--she was indeed little more
than a girl. Her eyes were of a deep shade of hazel brown, her
eyebrows were delicately marked, her features and poise
admirable. Yet her skin was entirely colourless. She was as
pale as one whose eyes have been closed in death. Her lips,
although in no way highly coloured, were like streaks of scarlet
blossom upon a marble image. The contrast between her appearance
and that of her companion was curiously marked. Francis Ledsam
conformed in no way to the accepted physical type of his
profession. He was over six feet in height, broad-shouldered and
powerfully made. His features were cast in a large mould, he was
of fair, almost sandy complexion, even his mouth was more
humourous than incisive. His eyes alone, grey and exceedingly
magnetic, suggested the gifts which without a doubt lay behind
his massive forehead.

"I am anxious to avoid any possible mistake," she began. "Your
name is Francis Ledsam?"

"It is," he admitted.

"You are the very successful criminal barrister," she continued,