Patty admitted this possibility, but with every sign of doubt.

“The landlady said she had a letter this morning.”

“Did she?  Then it may have been from Dudley.  But you know her so much better than I do.  Of course, you mustn’t tell me anything you don’t feel it right to speak of; still, did it occur to you that I could be of any use?”

“No, I didn’t think; I only came because I was so upset when I found her gone.  I knew you lived in Gower Place somewhere, and I thought you might have seen her since Sunday.”

“I have not.  But surely you will hear from her very soon.  You may even get a letter tonight, or to-morrow morning.”

Patty gave a little spring of hopefulness.

“Yes; a letter might come by the last post to-night.  I’ll go home at once.”

“And I will come with you,” said Hilliard.  “Then you can tell me whether you have any news.”

They turned and walked towards the foot of Hampstead Road, whence they could go by tram-car to Patty’s abode in High Street, Camden Town.  Supported by the hope of finding a letter when she arrived, Miss Ringrose grew more like herself.

“You must have wondered what ever I meant by calling to see you, Mr. Hilliard.  I went to five or six houses before I hit on the right one.  I do wish now that I’d waited a little, but I’m always doing things in that way and being sorry for them directly after.  Eve is my best friend, you know, and that makes me so anxious about her.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Oh, ever so long—­about a year.”

The temptation to make another inquiry was too strong for Hilliard.

“Where has she been employed of late?”

Patty looked up at him with surprise.

“Oh, don’t you know?  She isn’t doing anything now.  The people where she was went bankrupt, and she’s been out of a place for more than a month.”

“Can’t find another engagement?”

“She hasn’t tried yet.  She’s taking a holiday.  It isn’t very nice work, adding up money all day.  I’m sure it would drive me out of my senses very soon.  I think she might find something better than that.”

Miss Ringrose continued to talk of her friend all the way to Camden Town, but the information he gathered did not serve to advance Hilliard in his understanding of Eve’s character.  That she was keeping back something of grave import the girl had already confessed, and in her chatter she frequently checked herself on the verge of an indiscretion.  Hilliard took for granted that the mystery had to do with the man he had seen at Earl’s Court.  If Eve actually disappeared, he would not scruple to extract from Patty all that she knew; but he must see first whether Eve would communicate with her friend.

In High Street Patty entered a small shop which was on the point of being closed for the night.

Hilliard waited for her a few yards away; on her return he saw at once that she was disappointed.