During the next three days Gerald found ample time to reflect upon the strange circumstances which environed him. Anxious to see the Major and place affairs on a proper basis, he called thrice at his rooms. On the first occasion he learned that Rebb had not returned to London; on the second, it appeared that he had come back, but was absent, visiting Mrs. Crosbie; while on the final occasion Haskins was told by the mild-looking valet that his master had gone again to Devonshire, and would not return for at least a week. He had left no message, said the man. From this circumstance Gerald inferred that Rebb was afraid of the interview. It then struck him, and very naturally, that, as the Major, during his hurried stay in town, had called upon Mrs. Crosbie, the widow had broken her promise. If this was the case Rebb had been placed on his guard, and so not only avoided Haskins, but had gone back to the Pixy's House to make arrangements for the young man's curiosity. Gerald therefore paid a visit to Ladysmith Court, only to learn that the widow and her mother had departed for Bognor on a month's holiday. It was thus apparent that in these two quarters Gerald could do nothing for the moment.  
And, indeed, the more Haskins thought about the matters the more difficult did it appear to set them straight. If he saw Rebb, and the Major held to the story of his ward's madness--as he assuredly would--Gerald felt that, for some time at all events, he could do nothing. Of course, if his theory about the will proved to be correct, and if he could be certain that Rebb was shutting up Mavis in order to enjoy an income which should rightfully be hers, then he could take steps to have the matter inquired into. To make any beginning at all, it was necessary to see Tod Macandrew, so Gerald to look him up. Just as he did so, the morning post brought a Sunday supper invitation from Mrs. Pelham Odin. This was what Tod would have called a coincidence, but Gerald, believing that nothing happened by chance, saw in the incident a sign pointing to the path he should tread. Directed by the Unseen Powers, who were, he believed, about to the mystery, he had not to see Rebb or Mrs. Crosbie immediately, nor had he to proceed at once to Denleigh. His duty was to visit Mrs. Pelham Odin's flat and learn what he could about Charity Bird. If she was related in any way to Mavis Durham--and the marvelous between the two girls hinted as much--he might learn from the old actress sufficient of her adopted daughter's past to give him a clue to the of Major Rebb.
 
It will be seen that Gerald had not proceeded to inquire into the mystery of the coral hand, or Bellaria's fear of the same. He could have learned somewhat about the matter of the trinket by seeing Signor Venosta, who, according to Mrs. Berch, had given the to the widow. But Gerald did not know where Venosta lived, and could not make from Mrs. Crosbie without her wanting to know his reasons. Moreover, he desired to solve the mystery of Mavis and of her before searching into Bellaria's past. Certainly he had a shrewd idea that Mavis' detention, and Bellaria's , and Major Rebb's behavior, and Mrs. Crosbie's possession of the coral hand, were all of a piece, but these were like the separate parts of a puzzle, and he could not fit them together. There was nothing for it but to see if he could find a clue into the when visiting Mrs. Pelham Odin. He therefore dressed himself with great care, and proceeded in a hansom to Bloomsbury, where the old actress dwelt.
 
Her was scarcely a flat, in the accepted sense of the word, but rather a collection of rooms on the first floor of a fine old Georgian in Caroline Street. A butler and his wife, who had been a cook, owned the house, and attended to the various people who dwelt therein. Mrs. Pelham Odin was thus spared the trouble of domestic details, for which--as she said herself--she had no head, and was very comfortably placed at a moderate charge. With the of old age, she called her abode "my flat," and no argument could persuade her that the name was wrongly .
 
Haskins entered the large square room with a painted ceiling which was Mrs. Pelham Odin's drawing-room. Adjoining was the dining-room, equally , while the two bedrooms occupied by the old lady and her adopted daughter were across the landing. The room looked pretty and , as Mrs. Pelham Odin had great taste, and did not her apartments with furniture, or indulge in a multiplicity of patterns on carpet or walls, or on the upholstery of the chairs. A great quantity of flowers the room, arranged by Charity, and it was lighted with rose-shaded lamps on tall wrought-iron pedestals. On entering the door from the staircase three narrow windows could be seen opposite, opening on to a small balcony, but, as the night was a trifle cold, these were closed, and the yellow curtains were . The room looked comfortable, and Mrs. Pelham Odin was the most comfortable person in it. She fitted the apartment as a hermit-crab fits its shell.
 
The actress, with a great sense of the fitness of things, had grown old gracefully--that is, she had not resorted to dye and paint to improve her looks. She was a small woman, and very , but her dignity was tremendous. In a black gown trimmed with lace, that might, or might not have been priceless, with her silvery hair worn in the regal style of Marie Antoinette, with a somewhat massive set of features irradiated by a gracious smile, Mrs. Pelham Odin received her guest as a queen might have done. From a long experience in playing aristocratic old in comedy, and imperious heroines in tragedy, dignity had become a second nature to the clever old actress. It is said that Gibbon was so long in writing "The Decline and Fall" that he ended in believing himself to be the Roman Empire. In a like manner Mrs. Pelham Odin believed herself to be the Marchioness in Caste, or Helen Macgregor, or Volumnia--perhaps a mixture of the three. She certainly was tremendously , and no stage manager ever dare to take a liberty with her. She still appeared on the boards when she found a part of her style.
 
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Haskins," said Mrs. Pelham Odin, suppressing an to use the royal "we," and her hand to be shaken or kissed, as the visitor preferred.
 
Gerald, having something to gain from a little timely flattery, kissed the jeweled fingers. He knew that this old-world attention appealed to Mrs. Pelham Odin as nothing else did. "You are looking--like yourself," he said politely, "I can pay you no higher compliment."
 
Mrs. Pelham Odin laughed her silvery laugh, which critics always mentioned, and took the stage--that is, she walked the length of the drawing-room. "Ever a courtier, Mr. Haskins. Where did you--living in this present generation of hurry--learn such Versailles manners?"
 
"From the queen of the English stage, madam."
 
"From me?" Mrs. Pelham Odin fell into her famous startled attitude--also much noticed by critics. "Oh no, no; I am but a of the past."
 
"And you have survived to show us what grace and dignity once existed."
 
The old actress fluttered her fan with a gracious smile, and bowed her head to the compliment. "Neither grace nor dignity are necessary in this age of motor cars," she said, sighing. "However, we must take things as they are and be cheerful. You don't ask after Charity?"
 
"I am too much taken up with you at present, madam."
 
"Ah, you Irishmen, with your blarney. Well, Charity is in the dining-room with Mr. Macandrew. She is showing him some new photographs of herself, so will not be here for a few minutes, which is just as well."
 
"Why?" asked Gerald, taking the seat she indicated.
 
Mrs. Pelham Odin throned herself queenlike on a sofa. "What do you think of Mr. Macandrew?" she asked .
 
"He is the best fellow in the world," replied Haskins , for he guessed why she asked the question, and was willing to act as Tod's trumpeter, "also he is very clever, and some day will be wealthy."
 
"Charity wants to marry him."
 
"And he wants to marry Charity. My dear lady, I knew that years ago."
 
Mrs. Pelham Odin nodded. "Of course, it is stale news. All the same, I asked you here to chat over the matter. Hitherto, I have set my face against such a marriage, as the match is not a good one for my girl."
 
Gerald . "If Miss Bird marries Macandrew she is a lucky young lady, to my mind. He is of good family; he is clever; he has a good profession; and he is an honest man. Certainly he has no money, but----"
 
"That's just it," interrupted the other, "he has come in lately for a of two thousand pounds. That is something, but not much. Still, Charity is so upon this marriage, that--if you can really swear to all you say about Mr. Macandrew--I am willing to consent."
 
"I certainly should do so. Come, Mrs. Pelham Odin, don't part two hearts in this cruel way. Let your daughter marry Macandrew."
 
The actress sighed. "I think I shall have to," she said, after a pause, &q............