one has them under any pretext. Probably, I shall be back by Saturday at
the latest."

Venner did not scruple to follow Fenwick's disappearing figure as far as
the street. He was anxious to obtain a clue to Fenwick's destination.
Straining his ears, he just managed to catch the words "Charing Cross,"
and then returned to the hall, by no means dissatisfied. Obviously,
Fenwick was intending to cross the Channel for a day or two, and he had
said to the clerk that he would not be back before Saturday.

Here was something like a chance at last. Very slowly and thoughtfully,
Venner went up the stairs in the direction of his own room. He had
ascertained by this time that one part of Fenwick's suite was immediately
over his own bedroom. His idea now was to walk up to the next floor, and
make a close examination of the rooms there. It did not take him long to
discover the fact that Fenwick's suite was self contained, like a flat.
That is to say, a strong outer door once locked made communication with
the suite of rooms impossible. Venner was still pondering over his
problem when the master door opened, and Vera came out so hurriedly as
almost to fall into Venner's arms. She turned pale as she saw him; and as
she closed the big door hurriedly behind her, Venner could see that she
had in her hand the tiny Yale key which gave entrance to the suite of
rooms. The girl looked distressed and embarrassed, but not much more so
than Venner, who was feeling not a little guilty.

But all this was lost upon Vera; her own agitation and her own
unhappiness seemed to have blinded her to everything else.

"What are you doing here?" she stammered.