Three o’clock on Monday afternoon
saw Eliza installed in the bar of the
hotel with her niece; while Miss
Brown, Miss Davidson, Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Barton, Mrs. Farmer, and four
or five other ladies were assembled at
Miss Newman’s. After the customary
greetings Miss Newman said: “j
have asked you to meet here to con
sider the suspicious conduct of the
visitors to that hotel opposite, and to
determine what steps should be taken
in their regard. There may be no
disgraceful stories, but that remains
to be proved. I repeat, therefore,
what is now to be done?”
“I must confess that I only came to
look at tl em.” said Mrs. Farmer,
after a pause.
“Would it be of any use to speak to
Mrs. Weston, of the holel?” timidly
asked Mrs. Smith.
“None,” replied Miss Newman, with
severity. "That has been tried. You
might trust me to try all obvious
plans like that.”
“And what is the suggestion, Miss
Newman, that you said you had to
make?” Miss Brown inquired.
“That we should club together to
employ a detective,” answered the
hostess, with decision. “We must
make sure of our facts. I find, on in
qu-ry, that the cost of a regular de
tective would be heavy: but there is
an ex-policeman who has been em
ployed on such missions, and his
charge would not exceed two guineas
a day. In about two days he thinks
that he could ascertain the residences,
occupations (if any), and much of the
past history of the parties.”
“We must not get ourselves into
any scrape by paying,” said Mrs.
Barton.
