The sun had scarcely risen when he rang for his valet.

The young man appeared promptly.

The duke made a hasty toilet, and then called his servant to attend him down stairs.

None of the household were yet astir.

But, by the direction of the duke, Kerr unlocked, unbolted and unbarred the street door to let his master out.

“Close and secure the house after me, James, for it will be hours yet before the household will be up,” said the duke, as he passed out.

It was a clear October day for London.  The sun was not more than twenty minutes high, and it shone redly and dully through a morning fog.  The streets were still deserted, except by milkmen, bakers, costermongers, and other “early birds.”

He walked rapidly to the Church Court police station.

Detective Setter was not there.  But the Duke left word for him to call at
Elmthorpe as soon as he should return.

He left the police station and went on toward Elmthrope.  But he did not enter the house.  He could not rest.  He walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the iron railings until he thought Lady Belgrade might have risen.

Then he went up the steps and rang the bell.

The hall porter opened the door and admitted him.

“Has Lady Belgrade come down yet?” was his first question.

“My lady has, your grace.  My lady is waiting breakfast for your grace,” respectfully answered the footman.

He longed to ask if any news had been heard of the missing one, but he forbore to do so, and hurried away up-stairs to the breakfast parlor.

There he found Lady Belgrade, dressed in a purple cashmere robe, and wrapped in a rich India shawl, reclining in a rocking-chair beside a breakfast-table laid for two.

“Good morning, madam.  I fear I have kept your ladyship waiting,” said the duke, as he entered the room.

“Not a second, my dear duke.  I have but just this instant come down,” answered the dowager, politely, and unhesitatingly telling the conventional lie, as she put out her hand and touched the bell.

“I fear that it is useless to ask you if there is any news of our missing girl,” said the duke, in a low tone.

“I have heard nothing.  And you?  Of course, you have not, or you would not have asked me the question.  But, good Heaven, Duke, you are as pale as a ghost!  You look as if you had just risen from a sick bed!  You look full twenty years older than you did yesterday.  What have you been doing with yourself?  Where have you been?” inquired the dowager.

The duke answered her last question only.

“I have been to Church Court to look up Detective Setter.  I left orders for him to report here this morning.  I expect him here very soon.  I must do all that I can do in London to-day, as it is absolutely necessary for me to leave town by the night express of the Great Northern Railroad, in order to attend the trial for which I am subpoenaed as a witness, to-morrow.”