“Felicia, do you know what that business is?” I asked.

“I have some idea of it,” she answered.

Her answer puzzled me.  If Felicia really had any idea as to the nature of it, and was content to play the part she was playing, it certainly could not be anything of an illicit nature.  Yet everything else which had come under my notice pointed to Delora’s being associated with a criminal undertaking.  I paced the room, deep in thought.  Felicia all the time was watching me anxiously.

“You are not going to leave me?” she asked very softly.

I came to a standstill before her.

“No, Felicia,” I said, “I am not going to leave you!  But I want to tell you this.  I am going to try and find out for myself the things which you will not tell me.  No, you must not try to stop me!” I said, anticipating the words which indeed had trembled upon her lips.  “It must be either that or farewell, Felicia.  I cannot remain here and do absolutely nothing.  I want to find your uncle, and to have some sort of an explanation from him, and I mean to do it.”

She shook her head.

“There are others who are trying to find him,” she said, “but I do not think that they will succeed.  The young man who was here the other night, for instance.”

“If I fail, I fail,” I answered.  “At any rate, I shall be doing something.  I must go back to my brother’s to-night, Felicia, because I have promised to stay with him.  In a day or two I shall return to my rooms here, and I shall do my best to find out the meaning of your uncle’s mysterious movements.  It may seem impertinent to you to interfere in anybody else’s concerns.  I cannot help it.  It is for your sake.  The present position is impossible!”

“You are not staying here to-night?” she asked.

“To-night, no!” I answered.  “I will let you know directly I return.”

“There is one thing else, Capitaine Rotherby.  Could you promise it to me, I wonder?”

“I will try,” I answered.

“Do not quarrel any more, if you can help it,” she begged, “with Louis!”

Her question forced a laugh from my lips.  Quarrel with Louis, indeed!  What more could I do in that direction?  Then I frowned, in temporary annoyance.  I hated to hear her speak of him as a person to be considered.

“Louis is a venomous little person,” I said, “but I certainly should not quarrel with him more than I can help.  I am, unfortunately, in his debt, or I should have dealt with him before now.”

I glanced at the clock and jumped up.  It was very much later than I had thought.  She gave me her hands a little wistfully.

“I do not like to think of you here alone,” I said.  “I wish that I could persuade you to engage a maid.”

She shook her head.

“My uncle would not allow it,” she said simply.  “He says that servants are always prying into one’s concerns.  Good night, Capitaine Rotherby!  Thank you so much for taking me out this evening.  After all, I cannot help feeling that it has been rather like the beginning of this holiday.”