In Which We Encounter an Old Acquaintance
- On the afternoon before Grisini's death, Dr. Wintermute is at home when he receives a surprise visitor—Mrs. Pinchbeck.
- She comes in dressed in her finest clothes and with an intense amount of makeup on, and Dr. Wintermute has to work to keep a straight face as she sweeps in and tells him that she's here with some information he might be interested in.
- She says that she found an envelope addressed to Grisini from a place called Strachan's Ghyll and that she suspects that might be where the evil magician has gone with Clara—if he really did kidnap her.
- Then, she goes through this back-and-forth show of refusing the reward money that Dr. Wintermute gives her, until she finally takes it and leaves theatrically.
- When Dr. Wintermute emerges from his library, Mrs. Wintermute asks him who the strange woman was, and he explains why Mrs. Pinchbeck came.
- He tells her about the clue and says he will go to Strachan's Ghyll to look for Clara. Mrs. Wintermute says that she must go as well; she has to do everything she can to get her daughter back.