"What can this mean?" thought the girl. She sat up, and her _ennui_ vanished. "Show Captain Keith up," she said to the servant; and a moment later he entered the room. He came quickly towards her, and she stood up as he advanced, and bowed in return to his greeting.
"Will you sit down?" she said. Then she added, speaking somewhat conventionally, "What can I do for you?"
"I must apologize for forcing myself into your presence in this way, Miss Hunt," replied Keith. "I have a very painful business to transact, and I want to do it as quickly as possible. I want, to a certain extent, also to throw myself on your mercy."
"I will do anything I can for you," said the girl.
She saw that Keith was agitated. His face was white, and although his words were bold enough, she observed that his hand slightly trembled. She pushed a chair towards him; but he did not take it, although he laid his hand on the rail.
Miss Hunt sat down on a sofa which stood near. She looked up with expectancy on her face. Keith thought for a brief moment, and then plunged into the ugly task which he had set himself.
[Illustration: "_She looked up with expectancy on her face._"]
"You took a drive this morning," he said, "in a hansom, number 22,461."
"I did," said the girl, in some astonishment.
"You left your purse in the hansom, and that purse contained one hundred pounds in gold and notes."
"It did. It also contained five shillings. Have you heard anything about it? I shall be so thankful to get it back. I went to Scotland Yard, but could get no information. I was just regarding the whole affair as hopeless, although, of course, the police will do what they can. I was wondering how I could break the news to my father. Although he is rich, he hates what he calls wilful waste. Won't you sit down, Captain Keith? I wish you would."
Keith did now drop into the nearest chair.
"My father will naturally accuse me of carelessness for leaving my purse in a hansom," continued the young lady.
"I wish to goodness you had not done so, Miss Hunt!"
"How strangely you speak! Is it possible you know something about it?"
"I do; and because I don't wish the hansom-driver to get into trouble, and because it is right that you should have your money back, I have brought you--this." As the captain spoke he took a small packet and laid it on the table near Miss Hunt.