“Do you wish to consult my partner or me?” asked the keenest-looking man.  “I am Mr. Scott.”

“Either will do,” I answered.  “My business will be soon dispatched.  Some months ago you inserted an advertisement in the Times.”

“To what purport?” inquired Mr. Scott.

“You offered fifty pounds reward,” I replied, “for information concerning a young lady.”

A gleam of intelligence and gratification flickered upon both their faces, but quickly faded away into a sober and blank gravity.  Mr. Scott waited for me to speak again, and bowed silently, as if to intimate he was all attention.

“I came,” I added, “to ask you for the name and address of that young lady’s friends, as I should prefer communicating directly with them, with a view to cooperation in the discovery of her hiding-place.  I need scarcely say I have no wish to receive any reward.  I entirely waive any claim to that, if you will oblige me by putting me into connection with the family.”

“Have you no information you can impart to us?” asked Mr. Scott.

“None,” I answered, decisively.  “It is some months since I saw the advertisement, and it must be nine months since you put it into the Times.  I believe it is nine months since the young lady was missing.”

“About that time,” he said.

“Her friends must have suffered great anxiety,” I remarked.

“Very great indeed,” he admitted.

“If I could render them any service, it would be a great pleasure to me,” I continued; “cannot you tell me where to find them?”

“We are authorized to receive any information,” he replied.  “You must allow me to ask if you know any thing about the young lady in question?”

“My object is to combine with her friends in seeking her,” I said, evasively.  “I really cannot give you any information; but if you will put me into communication with them, I may be useful to them.”

“Well,” he said, with an air of candor, “of course the young lady’s friends are anxious to keep in the background.  It is not a pleasant circumstance to occur in a family; and if possible they would wish her to be restored without any eclat.  Of course, if you could give us any definite information it would be quite another thing.  The young lady’s family is highly connected.  Have you seen any one answering to the description?”

“It is a very common one,” I answered.  “I have seen scores of young ladies who might answer to it.  I am surprised that in London you could not trace her.  Did you apply to the police?”

“The police are blockheads,” replied Mr. Scott.—­“Will you be so good as to see if there is any one in the outer office, Mr. Brown, or on the stairs?  I believe I heard a noise outside.”

Mr. Brown disappeared for a few minutes; but his absence did not interrupt our conversation.  There was not much to be made out of it on either side, for we were only fencing with one another.  I learned nothing about Olivia’s friends, and I was satisfied he had learned nothing about her.