"Dear Mr. Preston," the note ran. "Please come to our sitting-room as soon as possible. It is very important that you come at once, before you see or speak to any one.
"If any one comes to speak with you or question you, please put him off, and tell no one anything till you have seen us. I can only explain this to you personally, and at the earliest possible moment.
"Very sincerely,
"Ethel D. Varris."
But even as the young American was rereading the perplexing note, he began to get an explanation. There was again an imperative tread in the hall and this time a heavy knock at the door. Opening it, he found himself face to face with a sour-visaged officer of the law whom, after some small parley, he managed to put off with a promise to appear at the hotel office within a quarter hour.
Preston dressed very quickly then; and, hastening at once and unobserved to Mrs. Varris's private sitting-room upon the second
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