"Although we have said no to the reporters," Mrs.Gilbert replied bravely in answer to the nod of approval from her husband, and much as if she herself were making a confession for them both, "I fear that Georgette had had a love affair.No doubt you have heard hints of Dudley Lawton's name in connection with the case? I can't imagine how they could have leaked out, for I should have said that that old affair had long since been forgotten even by the society gossips.
The fact is that shortly after Georgette 'came out,' Dudley Lawton, who is quite on the road to becoming one of the rather notorious members of the younger set, began to pay her marked attentions.He is a fascinating, romantic sort of fellow, one that, I imagine, possesses much attraction for a girl who has been brought up as simply as Georgette was, and who has absorbed a surreptitious diet of modern literature such as we now know Georgette did.I suppose you have seen portraits of Georgette in the newspapers and know what a dreamy and artistic nature her face indicates?"Kennedy nodded.It is, of course, one of the cardinal tenets of journalism that all women are beautiful, but even the coarse screen of the ordinary newspaper half-tone had not been able to conceal the rather exceptional beauty of Miss Georgette Gilbert.
If it had, all the shortcomings of the newspaper photographic art would have been quickly glossed over by the almost ardent descriptions by those ladies of the press who come along about the second day after an event of this kind with signed articles analysing the character and motives, the life and gowns of the latest actors in the front-page stories.
"Naturally both my husband and myself opposed his attentions from the first.It was a hard struggle, for Georgette, of course, assumed the much-injured air of some of the heroines of her favourite novels.But I, at least, believed that we had won and that Georgette finally was brought to respect and, I hoped, understand our wishes in the matter.I believe so yet.Mr.Gilbert in a roundabout way came to an understanding with old Mr.Dudley Lawton, who possesses a great influence over his son, and - well, Dudley Lawton seemed to have passed out of Georgette's life.Ibelieved so then, at least, and I see no reason for not believing so yet.I feel that you ought to know this, but really I don't think it is right to say that Georgette had a love affair.I should rather say that she had had a love affair, but that it had been forgotten, perhaps a year ago."Mrs.Gilbert paused again, and it was evident that though she was concealing nothing she was measuring her words carefully in order not to give a false impression.
"What does Dudley Lawton say about the newspapers bringing his name into the case?" asked Kennedy, addressing Mr.Gilbert.
"Nothing," replied he."He denies that he has even spoken to her for nearly a year.Apparently he has no interest in the case.And yet I cannot quite believe that Lawton is as uninterested as he seems.I know that he has often spoken about her to members of the Cosmos Club where he lives, and that he reads practically everything that the newspapers print about the case.""But you have no reason to think that there has ever been any secret communication between them? Miss Georgette left no letters or anything that would indicate that her former infatuation survived?""None whatever," repeated Mr.Gilbert emphatically."We have gone over her personal effects very carefully, and I can't say they furnish a clue.In fact, there were very few letters.She rarely kept a letter.Whether it was merely from habit or for some purpose, I can't say.""Besides her liking for Dudley Lawton and her rather romantic nature, there are no other things in her life that would cause a desire for freedom?" asked Kennedy, much as a doctor might test the nerves of a patient."She had no hobbies?""Beyond the reading of some books which her mother and I did not altogether approve of, I should say no - no hobbies.""So far, I suppose, it is true that neither you nor the police have received even a hint as to where she went after leaving the book-store?""Not a hint.She dropped out as completely as if the earth had swallowed her.""Mrs.Gilbert," said Kennedy, as our visitors rose to go, "you may rest assured that if it is humanly possible to find your daughter Ishall leave no stone unturned until I have probed to the bottom of this mystery.I have seldom had a case that hung on more slender threads, yet if I can weave other threads to support it I feel that we shall soon find that the mystery is not so baffling as the Missing Persons Squad has found it so far."Scarcely had the Gilberts left when Kennedy put on his hat, remarking: "We'll at least get our walk, if not the show.Let's stroll around to the Cosmos Club.Perhaps we may catch Lawton in."Luckily we chanced to find him there in the reading-room.Lawton was, as Mrs.Gilbert had said, a type that is common enough in New York and is very fascinating to many girls.In fact, he was one of those fellows whose sins are readily forgiven because they are always interesting.Not a few men secretly admire though publicly execrate the Lawton type.
I say we chanced to find him in.That was about all we found.Our interview was most unsatisfactory.For my part, I could not determine whether he was merely anxious to avoid any notoriety in connection with the case or whether he was concealing something that might compromise himself.
