She said nothing.  At another time, such an explanation would have been instantly accepted.  Now, however, it was different.

Kennedy read the look on her face, and an instant later turned to Aunt Josephine and myself.

“I would very much appreciate a chance to say a few words to Miss Dodge alone,” he intimated.  “I have had no such opportunity for some time.  If you would be so kind as to leave us in the library—­ for a few minutes—­”

He did not finish the sentence.  Aunt Josephine had already begun to withdraw and I followed.

. . . . . . . .

For a moment or two, Craig and Elaine looked at each other, neither saying a word, each wondering just what was in the other’s mind.  Kennedy was wondering if there was any X-ray that might read a woman’s heart, as he was accustomed to read others of nature’s secrets.

He cleared his throat, the obvious manner of covering up his emotion.

“Elaine,” he said at length, dropping the recent return to “Miss Dodge,” for the moment, “Elaine, is there any truth in this morning’s newspaper report of—­of you?”

She had dropped her eyes.  But he persisted, taking a newspaper clipping from his pocket and handing it to her.

Her hand trembled as she glanced over the item: 

SOCIETY NOTES

Dame Rumor is connecting the name of Miss Elaine Dodge, the heiress, with that of Perry Bennett, the famous young lawyer.  The announcement of an engagement between them at any time would not surprise—­

Elaine read no further.  She handed back the clipping to Kennedy.  As her eyes met his, she noticed his expression of deep concern, and hesitated with the reply she had evidently been just about to make.

Still, as she lowered her head, it seemed to give silent confirmation to the truth of the newspaper report.

Kennedy said nothing.  But his eyes continued to study her face, even when it was averted.

He suppressed his feelings with a great effort, then, without a word, bowed and left the room.

“Walter,” he exclaimed as he rejoined us in the drawing room, where I was chatting with Aunt Josephine, “we must be off again.  The trail follows still further.”

I rose and much to the increased mystification of Aunt Josephine, left the house.

An hour or so later, Elaine, whose mind was now in a whirl from what had happened, decided to call on Perry Bennett.

Two or three clerks were in the outer office when she arrived, but the office boy, laying down a dime novel, rose to meet her and informed her that Mr. Bennett was alone.

As Elaine entered his private office, Bennett rose to greet her effusively and they exchanged a few words.

“I mustn’t forget to thank you for those lovely roses you sent me,” she exclaimed at length.  “They were beautiful and I appreciated them ever so much.”