V
THE THIRD VISITOR
Miss Cicely Farmond's air as she entered Simon Rattar's room seemed compounded of a little shyness, considerable trepidation, and yet more determination. In her low voice and with a fleeting smile she wished him good morning, like an acquaintance with whom she was quite familiar, and then with a serious little frown, and fixing her engaging eyes very straight upon him, she made the surprising demand:
"Mr. Rattar, I want you to tell me honestly who I am."
For an instant Simon's cold eyes opened very wide, and then he was gazing at her after his usual silent and steadfast manner.
"Who you are?" he repeated after a few seconds' pause.
"Yes. Indeed, Mr. Rattar, I insist on knowing!"
Simon smiled slightly.
"And what makes you think I can assist you to—er—recover your identity, Miss Farmond?"
"To discover it, not recover it," she corrected.
"Don't you really know that I am honestly quite ignorant?"
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