of Miss Fairlie as if they had known each other when they were children.”
“You said, I think, that she denied belonging to this place?”
“Yes, she told me she came from Hampshire.”
“And you entirely failed to find out her name?”
“Entirely.”
“Very strange. I think you were quite justified, Mr. Hartright, in giving the poor creature her liberty, for she seems to have done nothing in your presence to show herself unfit to enjoy it. But I wish you had been a little more resolute about finding
some minutes. It was her voice again that first broke the silence between us.
“I want to ask you something,” she said suddenly. “Do you know many people in London?”
“Yes, a great many.”
“Many men of rank and title?” There was an unmistakable tone of suspicion in the strange question. I hesitated