‘No, I was afraid not. But she must have been here. She’s just lost her husband – that is what makes the whole thing so very sad – and I wondered if she’d been here about his insurance, or whether perhaps she was looking for a job. This address was my only hope. You can imagine how I feel.’

‘Dear me, yes.’ In her thirty years the blonde had experienced many relationships with many people, but she had never had a sister, and suddenly she realized how much she had missed. A sister was one who would stick to you through thick and thin, daring even a father’s rage; and how dreadful this poor little creature’s father must be was evidenced by her shrinking figure, her shy manner, her halting way of speech.

‘What is the date of the postmark?’ she asked, and when Miss Mayfield told her, she indicated a leather-covered banquette against one wall of the cage and said, ‘Sit down. I may be a minute or two.’ She opened another of the cage walls and vanished.

Miss Mayfield occupied her time of waiting by speculating on the chances of Emily Baines’s having changed her name. It wasn’t very likely. For one thing, there was no reason why she should; for another, she would be almost certain to apply for a post in some way connected with her profession and would need to show her qualifications.

Oh, well, she said to herself, I can manage without her help, but it would have made things so much easier for me.

The blonde returned, carrying a slip of paper.

‘I found it,’ she announced, with some triumph. ‘She did apply here, on that date, for a post as nurse-receptionist to one of our doctors. But it meant Saturday-morning work, and she has a child – is that right?’

‘Yes, that’s right,’ said Miss Mayfield breathlessly. ‘A little boy.’

‘She said she’d think it over and let Mr Steggles, the Personnel Manager, know; and next day she did. She said she’d found something that would leave Saturday free. Mr Steggles was struck with her, because she telephoned. Most people who say so never do. She was at this address then, but, of course, that’s a little while ago.’

Miss Mayfield read, ‘44 Macebury Street, SW4.’

‘Thank you so very much. Even if she has moved, they may know her new address. You have been more than kind.’

The blonde said – and meant it – that it had been a pleasure, and that she did hope she’d find her sister.