and disturbed you to no purpose. You must forgive my mistake. But now I
will not keep you any longer. Good-bye."

She showed no further disposition to loiter; and Gimblet rang the bell
for the lift and saw her depart with a good deal of satisfaction.

In spite of her extremely hazy ideas on the subject of other people's
property, there was, he admitted, something attractive about her. Still
he was very glad she had gone.

He returned to his room, taking up and pocketing Lord Ashiel's envelope
as he passed the little table by the door.

He did it mechanically, for his mind was occupied with a question which
must be immediately decided.

Was it, or was it not, worth while to have the woman who had just left
him followed and located, and her identity ascertained?

Gimblet disliked leaving small problems unsolved, however insignificant
they appeared. On the whole, he thought he might as well find out who she
was, and he turned back into the hall and called for Higgs.

If she were to be caught sight of again before leaving the house there
was not a moment to lose. But Higgs did not reply, and on Gimblet's
opening the pantry door he found it empty. Unknown to him, the moment the
lady had departed Higgs had gone upstairs to the flat above to have a
word with a friend.

The detective seized his hat and ran downstairs, but he was too late.