Blind Love

"I see nothing suspicious, Mr. Henley. When Iris goes out, she visits a

friend."

"And always goes in the same direction, and always visits the same

friend," Mr. Henley added. "I felt a curiosity to know who that friend

might be; and I made the discovery yesterday. When you were staying in

my house in the country, do you remember the man who waited on you?"

Mountjoy began to feel alarmed for Iris; he answered as briefly as

possible.

"Your valet," he said.

"That's it! Well, I took my valet into my confidence--not for the first

time, I can tell you: an invaluable fellow. When Iris went out

yesterday, he tracked her to a wretched little suburban place near

Hampstead Heath, called Redburn Road. She rang the bell at Number Five,

and was at once let in--evidently well known there. My clever man made

inquiries in the neighbourhood. The house belongs to a doctor, who has

lately taken it. Name of Vimpany."

Mountjoy was not only startled, but showed it plainly. Mr. Henley,

still pacing backwards and forwards, happened by good fortune to have

his back turned towards his visitor, at that moment.

"Now I ask you, as a man of the world," Mr. Henley resumed, "what does

this mean? If you're too cautious to speak out--and I must say it looks

like it--shall I set you the example?"

"Just as you please, sir."

"Very well, then; I'll tell you what I suspect. When Iris is at home,

and when there's something amiss in my family, I believe that scoundrel

Lord Harry to be at the bottom of it. There's my experience, and

there's my explanation. I was on the point of ordering my carriage, to

go to the doctor myself, and insist on knowing what the attraction is

that takes my daughter to his house, when I heard your voice in the

hall. You tell me you are interested in Iris. Very well; you are just

the man to help me."

"May I ask how, Mr. Henley?"

"Of course you may. You can find your way to her confidence, if you

choose to try; she will trust you, when she won't trust her father. I

don't care two straws about her other secrets; but I do want to know

whether she is, or is not, plotting to marry the Irish blackguard.

Satisfy me about that, and you needn't tell me anything more. May I

count on you to find out how the land lies?"

Mountjoy listened, hardly able to credit the evidence of his own

senses; he was actually expected to insinuate himself into the

confidence of Iris, and then to betray her to her father! He rose, and

took his hat--and, without even the formality of a bow, opened the

door.