Then at last she rose and made her way outside.

Her friend the reception clerk was engaged in conversation with one or two men, a conversation of which she was obviously the subject.

As she opened the door, one of them broke off in the midst of what he was saying and would have accosted her.

The clerk, however, interposed, and drew her a step or two back into the room.
"Madam," he said, "one of these gentlemen is from Scotland Yard, and the others are reporters.

They are all eager to know anything about Mr.
Hamilton Fynes.