Hong-Kong, after all, seemed more probable than Llanberis.
That first failure gave me a clue, however, as to the best way of applying Hilda's own methods.

"What would such a person do under the circumstances ?" that was her way of putting the question.

Clearly, then, I must first decide what WERE the circumstances.

Was Sebastian speaking the truth?
Was Hilda Wade, or was she not, the daughter of the supposed murderer, Dr.Yorke-Bannerman?
I looked up as much of the case as I could, in unobtrusive ways, among the old law-reports, and found that the barrister who had had charge of the defence was my father's old friend, Mr.Horace Mayfield, a man of elegant tastes, and the means to gratify them.
I went to call on him on Sunday evening at his artistically luxurious house in Onslow Gardens.

A sedate footman answered the bell.
Fortunately, Mr.Mayfield was at home, and, what is rarer, disengaged.
You do not always find a successful Q.C.at his ease among his books, beneath the electric light, ready to give up a vacant hour to friendly colloquy.
"Remember Yorke-Bannerman's case ?" he said, a huge smile breaking slowly like a wave over his genial fat face--Horace Mayfield resembles a great good-humoured toad, with bland manners and a capacious double chin--"I should just say I DID! Bless my soul--why, yes," he beamed, "I was Yorke-Bannerman's counsel.