So far she had succeeded.

The next thing she had planned was a visit to Mr.Gibbons.
That need not take long, for she was not going to tell anything.

Her idea was merely to pave the way.
The Gibbons she found, lived in a large house on one of the numerous side streets from the Park, in a neighborhood that was in fact something more than merely well-to-do.
Fortunately she found Everett Gibbons in and was ushered into his study, where he sat poring over some papers and enjoying an after-dinner cigar.
"Mr.Gibbons," began Constance, "I believe there is a one thousand dollar reward for news of the whereabouts of your daughter, Florence." "Yes," he said in a colorless tone that betrayed the hopelessness of the long search.

"But we have traced down so many false clues that we have given up hope.

Since the day she went away, we have never been able to get the slightest trace of her.