He drew his chair closer to me with an air of briskness which had been foreign to him before.  For some reason, which I was unable to fathom, the introduction of Atherton’s name seemed to have enlivened him.  However, I was not long to remain in darkness.  In half a dozen sentences he threw more light on the real cause of his visit to me than he had done in all that had gone before.  His bearing, too, was more businesslike and to the point.  For the first time I had some glimmerings of the politician,—­alert, keen, eager,—­as he is known to all the world.

’Mr Atherton, like myself, has been a postulant for Miss Lindon’s hand.  Because I have succeeded where he has failed, he has chosen to be angry.  It seems that he has had dealings, either with my visitor of Tuesday night, or with some other his acquaintance, and he proposes to use what he has gleaned from him to the disadvantage of my character.  I have just come from Mr Atherton.  From hints he dropped I conclude that, probably during the last few hours, he has had an interview with someone who was connected in some way with that lurid patch in my career; that this person made so-called revelations, which were nothing but a series of monstrous lies; and these so-called revelations Mr Atherton has threatened, in so many words, to place before Miss Lindon, That is an eventuality which I wish to avoid.  My own conviction is that there is at this moment in London an emissary from that den in the whilom Rue de Rabagas—­for all I know it may be the Woman of the Songs herself.  Whether the sole purport of this individual’s presence is to do me injury, I am, as yet, in no position to say, but that it is proposed to work me mischief, at any rate, by the way, is plain.  I believe that Mr Atherton knows more about this person’s individuality and whereabouts than he has been willing, so far, to admit.  I want you, therefore, to ascertain these things on my behalf; to find out what, and where, this person is, to drag her!—­or him;—­out into the light of day.  In short, I want you to effectually protect me from the terrorism which threatens once more to overwhelm my mental and my physical powers,—­which bids fair to destroy my intellect, my career, my life, my all.’

’What reason have you for suspecting that Mr Atherton has seen this individual of whom you speak,—­has he told you so?’

‘Practically,—­yes.’

’I know Atherton well.  In his not infrequent moments of excitement he is apt to use strong language, but it goes no further.  I believe him to be the last person in the world to do anyone an intentional injustice, under any circumstances whatever.  If I go to him, armed with credentials from you, when he understands the real gravity of the situation,—­which it will be my business to make him do, I believe that, spontaneously, of his own accord, he will tell me as much about this mysterious individual as he knows himself.’

‘Then go to him at once.’