"It is more than strange. If we could lay hands upon that girl we might learn something useful. If we can find her people----" I paused; there were footsteps on the stairs, and I knew, from the care that was being taken in ascending, that it was Ronald Elsdale who was coming up. I opened the door for him, and gave him good-evening. I observed again the look of discomposure on his face as he entered the room; again I saw him turn his eyes downward to the spot upon which the cat was lying. He made no reference, however, to the fancy which oppressed him, but brushed his hand across his forehead, as he had done before.
"I am glad you are here, Mr. Emery," he said. "I wished to ask you something. Why did you want to know where the young lady lived whom, but for my blindness, I should have asked to be my wife?"
I paused a moment before I spoke. I felt that the time had not arrived to take him fully into my confidence.
"I beg you will not press me," I said; "I had a reason, but I cannot disclose it at present."
"Thank you. I have been thinking of it a great deal, and I felt that you did not ask the question out of idle curiosity."
"I did not. And now, if you will deal more generously to me than it may appear I am dealing to you, I should like to ask another question or two concerning her--if," I added, "the subject is not too painful to you."
He turned to his uncle, who said, "Yes, answer the questions, Ronald."
"I assure you," I commenced, "that I am impelled by a strong and earnest motive, and that before long you shall know all that is passing in my mind. When you met her on the Continent, did she give you the impression that she was of a morbid or melancholy temperament?"
"Not at all. She was always cheerful and animated."
"Was she averse to society? Did she show that it was distasteful to her?"
"Oh, no. With modesty and discretion she seemed glad to converse with people whose manners were agreeable and becoming."
"She had a favorite instrument, had she not, upon which she was fond of playing?"
"You seem to know a great deal about her, Mr. Emery. Her favorite instrument was the zither."
"Yes, and her touch was sweet and beautiful."
"Would you say that her inclination was to play sorrowful or somber airs?"