wheeling a puny child in a gaudily-trappedperambulator.
"I wanted to speak to you regarding Mr Statham," she said, after a longpause. "I ascertained you were coming to Paris, and waited in order tosee you."
"Why?" he asked, much surprised. The refusal of her name, herdetermination to conceal her identity, her friendship for Maud, and herintimate acquaintance with thing Servian, all combined to puzzle him tothe verge of distraction. Who was she? What was she?
The mystery of the Doctor and his daughter was an increasing one. Hispretended ignorance of certain facts had been unmasked by her in amanner which showed that she was aware of the actual truth. Was shereally a secret messenger from the girl he loved so devotedly--the girlwith whom he had last walked and talked with in the quietness of theLondon sundown in Nevern Square?
He glanced again at her pretty but mysterious face. She was a lady--refined, well-educated, with tiny white hands and well-shod feet. Therewas nothing of the artificial _chic_ of the Parisienne about her, but aquiet dignity which seemed almost incongruous in one so young. Indeed,he wondered that she was allowed about in the streets of Paris alone,without a chaperone.
Her piquante manner, and her utter disregard of all conventionality,amused him. True, she was older than Maud but most possibly her bosomfriend. If so, Maud was probably in hiding in Paris, and this prettygirl had been sent to him as Cupid's messenger.
"I wanted to see you on a matter which closely concerns Mr Statham."
"Anything that concerns Mr Statham concerns myself, Miss Lorena," hesaid. "I am his confidential secretary."
"I have ascertained that, otherwise I would not have dared to speak toyou. I want to warn you."
"Of what?"
"Of a deeply-laid conspiracy to wreck Mr Statham's life," she said."There have arisen recently two men who are now determined to lay barethe secret of the millionaire's past, in revenge for some old grievance,real or fancied."
"For the purposes of blackmail--eh?" he asked. "Every rich man isconstantly being subjected to attempted blackmail in some form orother."
"No. They have no desire to obtain money. Their sole intention is toexpose Mr Statham."
"Most men who are unsuccessful are eager to denounce the methods oftheir more fortunate friends," he said, smiling. "Mr Statham has nofear of exposure, I assure you." The girl looked him straight in theface with a long, steady gaze.
"Ah! I see?" she exclaimed, after a pause. "You treat me as an enemy,Mr Rolfe; not as a friend."
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
THE LOCKED DOOR IN PARK LANE.
"Excuse me, Miss Lorena, I do not," he declared quickly. "Only we haveheard so many threats of exposure that to cease to regard themseriously. Mr Statham's high reputation is sufficient guarantee to thepublic."
"I quite admit that," answered the girl. "It is not the present that isin question, but the past."
"In these days of hustle, a man's past matters but little. It is whathe is, not what he was, which the public recognise."
"Personally," she said, "I hold Mr Statham in highest esteem. I havenever met him, it's true, but I have knowledge of certain kind andgenerous actions on his part, actions which have brought happiness andprosperity to those who have fallen upon misfortune. For that reason Iresolved to speak to you and warn you of the plot in progress. Do youhappen to know a certain Mr John Adams?"
Rolfe started, and stared at her. What could she know of the Damocleansword suspended over the house of Statham?
"Well," he answered guardedly, "I once met a man of that name, I think."
"Recently?"
"About a month ago."
"You knew nothing of him prior to that?"
Rolfe hesitated. "Well, no," he replied.
"He made pretence of being friendly with you."
"Yes. But to tell you the truth I was somewhat suspicions of him. Whatdo you know of him? Tell me."
"I happen to be well acquainted with him," the girl responded. "It ishe who has arisen like one from the grave, and intends to avenge thewrong which he declares that Mr Statham had done him."
"Recently?"
"No, years ago, when they were abroad together--and Mr Statham was stilla poor man."
Charlie Rolfe was silent. He knew Adams; he knew, too, that evil wasintended. He had warned old Sam Statham, but the latter had not heeded.Adams had had the audacity to approach him in confidence, believingthat he might be bought over. When he had discovered that themillionaire's secretary was incorruptible, he openly declared hissinister intentions.
"I had no idea you were acquainted with Adams," he said, still puzzledto know who she was, and what was her motive.
"I happen to know certain details of the plot," she answered.
"And you will reveal them to me?" he asked in quick anxiety.
"Upon certain conditions."
"And what are they? I am all attention."
"The first is that you will not seek to learn the identity of the personwho is associated with Mr Adams in the forthcoming exposure; and thesecond is that you say nothing to Mr Statham regarding our secretmeeting."
"Why?" he asked, not quite understanding the reason of her laststipulation. "I thought you wished to warn Mr Statham?"
"No. I warn you. You can take measures of precaution, on Mr Statham'sbehalf without making explanation."
"Mr Statham has already seen John Adams and recognised him. He isalready forewarned."
"And he has not taken any steps in self-defence?" she cried quickly.
"Why need he trouble?"
"Why, because that man Adams has sworn to hound him toself-destruction."
Rolfe shrugged his shoulders, and replied:
"Mr Statham has really no apprehension of any unpleasantness, MissLorena. It is true that in the old days the two men were friends, and,apparently, they quarrelled. Adams was lost for years to all who knewhim, and now suddenly reappears to find his old acquaintance wealthybeyond the dreams of avarice, and seeks, as many more before him havedone, to profit by his former friendship."
"Or enmity," added the girl, lowering her sunshade a little until for amoment it hid her features. "I do not think you realise the dastardlycunning of the plot in progress. It has not only as its object the ruinof the credit of the house of Statham Brothers, but the creation of ascandal which Mr Samuel Statham will not dare to face. He must eitherfly the country, or commit suicide."
"Well?"
"The latter is expected by the two men who have combined and are nowperfecting their ingenious conspiracy. It is believed by them that hewill take his own life."
Charlie Rolfe reflected for a moment. He recollected old Sam's terribleagitation on the day when he recognised John Adams leaning against therailings of the Park. Of late, the great financier had betrayed signsof unusual nervousness, and had complained several times of insomnia.To his secretary knowledge he had spent two nights that very week inwalking the streets of London from midnight until dawn, ostensibly to docharitable actions to the homeless, but in reality because his mind wasbecoming unbalanced by the constant strain of not knowing from onemoment to another when Adams would deal his staggering blow.
Had there been any question of blackmail, the aid of solicitors and ofScotland Yard could have been invoked. But there had been no threatbeyond the statement made openly to Rolfe by the man who intended toencompass the ruin of the eccentric millionaire and philanthropist.
"I think, Miss Lorena, that we need have no fear of Mr Statham doinganything rash," he said. "But why is it hoped that he will prefer totake his life rather than face any exposure?"
"Because they will profit by his death--profit to an enormous degree."
"But how can Adams profit? He has had no dealings with Mr Statham oflate."
"Not Adams, but his friend. The latter will become wealthy."
"And may I not know his name?"
"No. That is the stipulation which I make. For the present it issufficient that you sho
uld be made aware of the broad lines of the plot,and that its main object is the death of Samuel Statham."
"And you wish me to tell him all this?"
"Certainly, only without explaining that I was your informant."
"Why do you wish to conceal the fact, Miss Lorena?" he asked. "Surelyhe would be only too delighted to be able to thank you for yourwarning?"
She shook her head, saying:
"If it were known that I had exposed their plans it would place me inperil. They are determined and relentless men, who would willinglysacrifice a woman in order to gain their ends, which in