1 files changed, 9077 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/56960-0.txt b/56960-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..401aa08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/56960-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9077 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56960 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+     1. Page scan source: Google Books
+     https://books.google.com/books/about/
+     The_Midnight_Guest.html?id=ZsgdAAAAMAAJ
+     (the New York Public Library)
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Front Cover]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MIDNIGHT GUEST
+
+
+_A Detective Story_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+By
+Fred M. White
+Author of "The Crimson Blind," "The Corner House,"
+Etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+PUBLISHERS -- NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1907
+T. J. McBRIDE & SON
+------------
+Published May, 1907
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER I.         At Whose Hand?
+
+CHAPTER II.        No. 1 Fitzjohn Square.
+
+CHAPTER III.       The Mark Of The Beast.
+
+CHAPTER IV.        A Woman's Face.
+
+CHAPTER V.         Vera Rayne.
+
+CHAPTER VI.        A Voice in the Dark.
+
+CHAPTER VII.       The Yellow Hand-bill.
+
+CHAPTER VIII.      The Mystery Deepens.
+
+CHAPTER IX.        The Confidential Agent.
+
+CHAPTER X.         Ropes of Sand.
+
+CHAPTER XI.        The Express Letter.
+
+CHAPTER XII.       A Speaking Likeness.
+
+CHAPTER XIII.      A Striking Likeness.
+
+CHAPTER XIV.       Retrospection.
+
+CHAPTER XV.        Dallas Makes A Discovery.
+
+CHAPTER XVI.       Strong Measures.
+
+CHAPTER XVII.      Looking Backwards.
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.     After Many Years.
+
+CHAPTER XIX.       Carlotta's Story.
+
+CHAPTER XX.        Valdo in a New Light.
+
+CHAPTER XXI.       To Be In Time.
+
+CHAPTER XXII.      The Worth of a Name.
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.     The Next Move.
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.      A Blood Relation.
+
+CHAPTER XXV.       Bred in the Bone.
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.      A Faithful Servant.
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.     Flight!
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.    Vera's Warning.
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.      The Message.
+
+CHAPTER XXX.       Lost!
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.      A Missing Link.
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.     What Does It Mean?
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.    The Midnight Message.
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.     A Strange Home-coming.
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.      Mother and Child.
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.     In the Dead of Night.
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.    An Unexpected Friend.
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.   In the House.
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.     The Hound Again.
+
+CHAPTER XL.        Broken Wings.
+
+CHAPTER XLI.       A Ray of Light.
+
+CHAPTER XLII.      Run To Earth.
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.     The Whole Truth.
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.      The Story of a Crime.
+
+CHAPTER XLV.       Count Flavio's Diary.
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.      A Woman's Heart.
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.     The Passing of the Vengeance.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MIDNIGHT GUEST.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+AT WHOSE HAND?
+
+
+A hansom pulled up in front of 799, Park Lane, and a slim figure of a
+woman, dressed in deep mourning, ran up the broad flight of marble
+steps leading to the house. Her features were closely concealed by a
+thick veil, so that the footman who answered the ring could make
+nothing of the visitor. Her voice was absolutely steady as she asked
+to see Lord Ravenspur at once.
+
+"That is impossible, madam," the footman protested; "his lordship is
+not yet down, and besides----"
+
+"There is no 'besides' about it," the visitor said, imperiously; "it
+is a matter of life and death."
+
+Once more the servant hesitated. There was something about this woman
+that commanded his respect. The hour was still early for Park Lane,
+seeing that it was barely nine o'clock, and the notable thoroughfare
+was practically deserted. From the distance came the hoarse cries of a
+number of newsboys who were racing across the Park. One of them came
+stumbling down Park Lane, filling the fresh spring atmosphere with his
+shouts. Evidently something out of the common had happened to bring
+these birds of ill omen westward at so early an hour. With the
+curiosity of his class the footman turned to listen.
+
+"Terrible murder in Fitzjohn Square! Death of Mr. Louis Delahay, the
+famous artist! Artist found dead in his studio! Full details!"
+
+The well-trained servant forgot his manners for the moment.
+
+"Good Lord!" he exclaimed, "it can't be true. Why, Mr. Delahay was a
+great friend of my master up to the last day or two----"
+
+"I am Mrs. Delahay," the veiled woman said with quiet intentness.
+"Please don't stand staring at me like that, but take me to your
+master at once. It is imperative that I should see Lord Ravenspur
+without a moment's delay."
+
+The footman collected his scattered wits, and stammered out some kind
+of apology. There were other newsboys racing down the Lane now. It
+seemed as if London was ringing with the name of Louis Delahay. Then
+the great double doors of the big house closed sullenly and shut out
+the horrid sound. At any other time the veiled woman might have been
+free to admire the luxury and extravagant good taste of her
+surroundings. There were many people who regarded Lord Ravenspur as
+the most fortunate and talented man in London. Not only had he been
+born to the possession of a fine old title, but he had almost
+unlimited wealth as well. As if this were not sufficient, Nature had
+endowed him with a handsome presence and an intellect far beyond the
+common. Apparently there was nothing that Ravenspur could not do. He
+was a fine sportsman, and a large number of his forty odd years had
+been spent big game shooting abroad. What time he passed in England
+was devoted almost exclusively to artistic pursuits. As a portrait
+painter Ravenspur stood on a level with the great masters of his time.
+More than one striking example of sculpture had come from his chisel.
+He had as much honour in the Salons of Vienna and Paris as he had
+within the walls of Burlington House. In fine, Ravenspur was a great
+personage, a popular figure in society, and well known everywhere. His
+lavish hospitality was always in the best of good taste, and the
+_entrée_ to 799, Park Lane was accounted a rare privilege by all his
+friends.
+
+But the woman in black was thinking nothing of this, as she followed
+the footman along marble corridors to a sunny morning-room at the back
+of the house. The footman indicated a chair, but the visitor waved him
+aside with a gesture of impatience.
+
+"Go and fetch your master at once," she said.
+
+For a few moments she paced up and down, weaving her way in and out
+amongst the rare objects of art like a wild animal that is freshly
+caged. She threw back her long, black veil presently as if the
+atmosphere of the place stifled her. Her face might have been that of
+a marble statue, so intensely white and rigid it was. It was only the
+rapid dilation of the dark eyes which showed that the stranger had
+life and feeling at all. She turned abruptly as Lord Ravenspur came
+into the room. His handsome, smiling face and prematurely iron-grey
+hair afforded a strong contrast to the features of his visitor. He
+came forward with extended hands.
+
+"This is an unexpected pleasure, Maria," he said. "But what is wrong?
+Louis is all right, I suppose?"
+
+"Louis is dead!" the woman said in the same cold, strained voice. "He
+has been foully murdered. I could not say more if I spoke for an hour.
+Louis is dead!"
+
+The speaker repeated the last three words over and over again as if
+she were trying to realise the dread significance of her own message.
+Ravenspur stood there with his hand to his head, shocked and grieved
+almost beyond the power of speech.
+
+"This is terrible," he murmured at length. "My dear Maria, I cannot
+find words to express my sympathy. Could you tell me how it happened?
+But perhaps I am asking too much."
+
+"No," Mrs. Delahay replied, still speaking with the utmost calmness;
+"I am ready to answer any question you like to put to me. I am
+absolutely dazed and stunned. As yet I can realise nothing. But,
+perhaps, before the reaction comes I had better tell you everything.
+To think that I should lose him in this way whilst I am still a bride!
+But I dare not pity myself as yet, there is far too much stern work to
+be done. There will be plenty of time later on for the luxury of
+grief."
+
+"Won't you sit down?" Ravenspur murmured.
+
+"My dear friend, I couldn't. I must be walking about. I feel as if I
+could walk about for years. But I will try and tell you how it
+happened. He came back to London yesterday afternoon, as you know, and
+put up at the Grand Hotel. You see, I had never been in London before,
+and so I know nothing at all about it. If we had only gone straight to
+our own house in Fitzjohn Square this dreadful thing--but why do I
+think of that? You know the house was not quite ready for us, and that
+was the reason why we went to the Grand. After visiting a theatre last
+night Louis announced his intention of going as far as our house. I
+understood him to say that he required something from his studio.
+There were no caretakers on the premises, but Louis had a latchkey, so
+that was all right. I went to bed about twelve o'clock, thinking no
+evil, and not in the least alarmed because Louis had not come back. As
+you know, he had always been a terribly late man, and I thought
+perhaps he had met one of his old companions, or perhaps he had turned
+into the Garrick Club. Still, when I woke up this morning about six,
+and found that he had not returned, I became genuinely alarmed. I took
+a cab as far as Fitzjohn Square, and went into the house."
+
+"One moment," Ravenspur interrupted. "I don't quite understand how you
+managed to get into the premises."
+
+"That was an easy matter, though the front door was closed. The
+latchkey was still in the lock. I only had to turn it to obtain
+admission. I went straight to the studio, and there on the
+floor----but I really cannot say any more. Strung up as I am I could
+not describe it to you. . . .  I suppose I cried out, and when I came
+back to a proper comprehension of things the place was full of police.
+For the last two hours I have been with them answering all sorts of
+questions. Then something told me to come to you, and here I am. And
+whatever you do, please don't leave me alone. I could not bear to be
+alone."
+
+"I wish I could tell you how sorry I am," Lord Ravenspur murmured.
+"This is a most extraordinary business altogether. You say that Louis
+left you not later than twelve o'clock to go as far as Fitzjohn
+Square, and that, when he left the Grand Hotel, he had no other object
+in his mind. You are quite sure of this?"
+
+"I am absolutely certain," Mrs. Delahay replied.
+
+"Well, that is a strange thing," Ravenspur went on. "It so happens
+that I had an accident to my own studio a day or two ago, and until
+yesterday the workmen were in repairing the glass roof. I was engaged
+upon a small work which I was anxious to finish, and it occurred to me
+that I might just as well make use of your husband's studio, seeing
+that he was away from home and did not require it. I obtained a
+duplicate key from the house agent, and all yesterday I was working on
+my picture there. In fact it is in Louis' studio at the present
+moment. After some friends who were dining with me last night left, I
+walked as far as Fitzjohn Square, and till nearly a quarter past one
+this morning I was at work there. I might have gone on all night, only
+the electric light failed suddenly, and I was left in darkness. Then I
+came home and went to bed. And I am prepared to swear that it had
+turned half-past one before I left your house, and there was no sign
+of Louis up to that time."
+
+"It is inexplicable," the woman said wearily. "When I try to think my
+brain seems to turn to water, and everything goes misty before my
+eyes. I feel like a woman who has had no sleep for years. I feel as if
+I must get something to relieve this terrible pressure on my brain. Is
+there nothing that you can suggest?"
+
+"I think so," Ravenspur said quietly. "I am going to take you back to
+your hotel, and call for a doctor on the way. You cannot go on like
+this. No human mind could stand it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+NO. 1 FITZJOHN SQUARE
+
+
+A few moments later and Ravenspur's brougham was being rapidly driven
+in the direction of the Grand Hotel. No words were spoken on the
+journey, but Ravenspur did not fail to notice how his companion shook
+and quivered as the shouts of the newsboys reached her ears. It seemed
+as if all London had given itself over to this last sensational
+tragedy. It was as if thousands of strange rough hands were pressing
+upon the still bleeding wound. To an intensely sympathetic nature like
+Ravenspur's, the relief of the destination was great. At his
+suggestion of food his companion shuddered. The mere idea of it turned
+her physically sick. Utterly worn out and exhausted she dropped into a
+chair. There was a light now of something like madness in her eyes.
+The doctor bustled in presently with something in his hand. Mrs.
+Delahay drank the medicine in a mechanical way, scarcely knowing what
+she was doing. Then, gradually, her rigid limbs relaxed, and the
+staring dark eyes were closed.
+
+"She'll do now for some time," the doctor whispered. "I have
+telephoned for a nurse who may be here now at any moment. Don't let me
+detain you. I have got my motor outside, and in any case I must remain
+till the nurse arrives."
+
+"That is very good of you," Ravenspur murmured. "As far as I am
+concerned I should like to make some inquiries. I have known Delahay
+now for the last five years; indeed, it was I who persuaded him to
+take up his quarters in London. It seems a terrible thing that so
+promising a career should be cut short like this. That man would have
+come to the top of his profession, and, so far as I know, he hadn't a
+single enemy in the world. Perhaps, by this time, the Scotland Yard
+people may have found a clue."
+
+Ravenspur drove straight away to Fitzjohn Square, and made his way
+through the crowd of morbid folks who had gathered outside. As he
+expected, he found the house in the hands of the police. Inspector
+Dallas came forward and greeted him respectfully.
+
+"This is a terrible affair, my lord," he said.
+
+"Ghastly," Ravenspur exclaimed. "It was a great shock when Mrs.
+Delahay came round to me this morning. And the strange part of the
+whole business is that I was in this very house myself, quite alone,
+till half-past one. Perhaps I had better explain the circumstances to
+you, as the knowledge might prove useful. . . . And now you know all
+about it. Mind you, I saw nothing; I did not hear a sound. Indeed, I
+am quite convinced that there was no one on the premises when I left."
+
+"But you had no means of making sure," the inspector protested. "The
+miscreants might have been here all the time. They might have been
+hiding in a room upstairs waiting for you to go."
+
+"They might have attacked me as far as that goes," Ravenspur replied.
+"My word, the mere suggestion of it turns one cold."
+
+"At any rate, they were not after your lordship," the inspector said,
+thoughtfully. "Of course, I am assuming for the sake of argument that
+the murderer, or murderers, were actually here when you arrived last
+night. If so, the whole thing was carefully premeditated. These people
+had no quarrel with you, and, therefore, they did not molest you. All
+the same, they wanted to get rid of you, or they would not have cut
+off the light."
+
+"But did they cut off the light?" Ravenspur asked.
+
+"That we can prove in a moment. I am going on the theory that these
+people wanted to get you out of the way, so they short-circuited the
+current and left you in darkness. That was a very useful expedient,
+and had the desired effect. I am very glad you told me this because it
+may be the means of putting us on the track of important evidence. But
+let us go down to the basement, and examine the electric meter."
+
+Ravenspur followed his companion down the dark steps leading to the
+basement, and Inspector Dallas struck a light. Then, with a grim
+smile, he pointed to a cable which led from the meter to the different
+rooms on the upper floors. The cable had been clean cut with some
+sharp instrument, a fracture which must have been recently made, for
+the main wire to the cable gleamed like gold.
+
+"So far, so good," Dallas said. "We have proved by yonder
+demonstration that these people were here last night whilst you were
+actually at work in the studio."
+
+"That puzzles me more than ever," Ravenspur replied. "Why did they not
+get rid of me an hour before, which they could have done equally as
+well, by the same simple expedient?"
+
+"Simply because they could afford to wait till half-past one. You may
+depend upon it that Mr. Delahay's movements were absolutely known to
+them. They were perfectly well aware of the fact that he was not
+expected here till some time past half-past one. It is not a nice
+insinuation to make, but when Mr. Delahay left his hotel at midnight,
+he had not the slightest intention of coming straight here. Doubtless
+he had important business which was likely to last him an hour and a
+half, and for some reason or other he did not want his wife to know
+what it was. Speaking as one man of the world to another, Mr.
+Delahay's excuse for getting out strikes me as being rather a shallow
+one. Surely a married man, more or less on his honeymoon, does not
+want to visit an empty house after midnight. Surely he could have
+waited till daylight."
+
+"Then you think he went out to keep an appointment?"
+
+"I feel quite convinced of it, your lordship. And, moreover, the
+appointment was a secret one of which Mrs. Delahay was to know
+nothing. I will go still further, and say that Mr. Delahay came here
+after you had gone this morning to keep an appointment. It is just
+possible that he might have been in the house during your presence
+here. It is just possible that he cut the cable himself."
+
+"Ah, but that won't quite do," Ravenspur protested. "When I came out
+of the house this morning I saw that the front door was carefully
+fastened, and I am prepared to swear that the latchkey which Mrs.
+Delahay found this morning was not in the lock then. No, no; I am
+quite sure that poor Delahay must have come here after I left. I am
+not prepared to contest your theory that my unfortunate friend came
+here to keep an appointment. Indeed, the presence of the latchkey in
+the door proves that he was in a hurry, and perhaps a little upset, or
+he would not have committed the mistake of leaving the key behind him.
+But after all, said and done, this is merely conjecture on our part.
+Have you found anything yourself that is likely to give you a clue?"
+
+Inspector Dallas hesitated just for a moment.
+
+"Perhaps I ought not to mention it," he said, "but I am sure I can
+rely upon your lordship's discretion. When I was called this morning I
+found Mr. Delahay lying on the floor of the studio quite dead. So far
+as we could see there were no marks of violence on the body except a
+small puncture over the heart, which appears to have been made with
+some very fine instrument. But, of course, we can't speak definitely
+on that point till we have had the inquest. As far as we can judge,
+something like a struggle must have taken place, because the loose
+carpets on the floor were in great disorder, and one or two articles
+of furniture had been overturned. You may say that this proves
+nothing, except that violence was used. But in the hand of the dead
+man we found something that might be useful to us. Perhaps you would
+like to see it."
+
+Lord Ravenspur intimated that he should. From a pocket-book Dallas
+produced a photograph, _carte de visite_ size, which had been torn
+into half a dozen pieces. The photograph was considerably faded, and
+in the tearing the actual face itself had been ripped out of all
+recognition. Still, judging from the small fragments, it was possible
+to make out that the picture had been that of a woman. One scrap of
+card bore the words "and Co., Melbourne." The rest of the lettering
+had apparently vanished.
+
+"This must have been taken a long time ago," Ravenspur said. "It is so
+terribly faded."
+
+"Not necessarily, my lord," Dallas said. "We know very little about
+that photograph as yet except that it was taken in Australia. Of
+course, it is fair to assume that the picture is an old one judging
+from the colouring, but your lordship must not forget that foreign
+photographs are always much fainter than those taken in this country,
+because the light is so much stronger and more brilliant. At any rate,
+the fact remains that we found those fragments tightly clenched in Mr.
+Delahay's left hand, all of which points to some intrigue, with a
+woman at the bottom of it. Of course, I know nothing whatever about
+Mr. Delahay's moral character----"
+
+"Then I'll tell you," Ravenspur said sharply. "My late friend was the
+soul of honour. He was a very quick, passionate man, and he inherited
+his temper from his Italian mother. But the man was incapable of
+anything mean or dishonourable. He was genuinely in love with his
+wife, and cared nothing for any other woman. How that photograph came
+into his possession I don't know. Probably we never shall know. But
+you can at once dismiss from your mind the suspicion that Delahay was
+mixed up in that vulgar kind of business. Now, is there anything more
+you can tell me?"
+
+"Well, no," Dallas said, after a short pause. "There is nothing that
+strikes me, no suggestions that seem to need a doctor's opinion. We
+shall find that the cause of death is the small puncture over the
+heart that I spoke of. To hazard an opinion, it might be caused by one
+of those glass stilettos--the Corsican type of weapon where the blade
+is snapped off in the wound. It leaves the smallest mark, and no blood
+follows--a difficult thing to trace without great care. Of course, the
+_post mortem_----"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
+
+
+A sudden quick cry broke from Ravenspur's lips. He fairly staggered
+back, his white face was given over to a look of peculiar horror.
+Then, as he became aware of the curious glances of his companion he
+made a great effort to regain his self-control.
+
+"I--I don't understand," he stammered. "A stiletto made of glass! A
+long, slender blade like an exaggerated needle, I presume. Yet, now I
+come to think of it, I recollect that, when I was painting a 'Borgia'
+subject once, my costume dealer spoke of one of those Corsican
+daggers. I did not take much interest in the conversation at the time.
+And so you have an idea that this is the way in which my poor friend
+met his death?"
+
+Ravenspur was speaking quietly and easily now. He had altogether
+regained control of himself save for an occasional twitching of his
+lips. He paced up and down the room thoughtfully for some time,
+utterly unconscious of Dallas' sharp scrutiny.
+
+"I suppose there is nothing more you have to tell me?" he said at
+length. "This is evidently going to be one of those crimes which
+thrill a whole community for a week, and then are never heard of
+again. Still, if there is anything I can do for you, pray do not
+hesitate to ask for my assistance. I suppose we can do no more till
+after the inquest is over?"
+
+Without waiting for any reply from his companion Ravenspur quitted the
+room, and went back to his brougham. He threw himself into a corner,
+and pulled his hat over his eyes. For a long time he sat there
+immersed in deep and painful thought, and utterly unconscious of his
+surroundings. Even when the brougham pulled up in Park Lane he made no
+attempt to dismount till the footman opened the door and addressed him
+by name.
+
+"I--I beg your pardon, Walters," he said, "this terrible business
+prevents my thinking about anything else. I am going into my own room
+now, and I am not to be disturbed by anybody. If I am dining out
+tonight, tell Mr. Ford to write and cancel the engagement. Oh, here
+is Ford himself."
+
+The neat, clean-shaven secretary came forward.
+
+"Your lordship seems to have forgotten," he said. "You are giving a
+dinner here tonight yourself. You gave orders especially to arrange
+it, because you were anxious for some of the Royal Academicians to
+meet the young Polish artist----"
+
+"I had clean forgotten it," Ravenspur said, with something like a
+groan. "Entertaining people tonight will be like dancing in fetters.
+Still, I must make the best of it, for I should not like that talented
+young foreigner to be disappointed. In the meantime, I am not at home
+to anybody."
+
+With this admonition Ravenspur passed up to his own private rooms, and
+carefully locked the door behind him. He took a cigar from his case,
+and lighted it, only to fling it away a moment later in disgust. He
+stood just for a moment with his hand on a decanter of brandy, and
+then with a smile for his own weakness poured out a glassful, which he
+drank without delay.
+
+"I am a fool and a coward," he muttered. "What can there be to be
+afraid of after all these years? Why do I hesitate in this way when
+boldness and decision would avert the danger?"
+
+Ravenspur sat there, looking moodily into space. He heard the house
+resounding to the sound of the luncheon gong, but he made no movement.
+The mere suggestion of food was repulsive to him, clean as his habits
+were and robust as his appetite usually was. The Lane and the Park
+were gay with traffic now; the roar of locomotion reached the ears of
+Ravenspur as he sat there. Presently the noise of the newsboys came
+again, and the name of Delahay seemed to fill the air to the exclusion
+of everything else. Ravenspur rang his bell, and asked for a paper.
+
+The flimsy, ill-printed sheet fairly reeked with the latest and most
+ghastly of London tragedies. Nothing else seemed to matter for the
+moment. Seven or eight columns were given over to an account of the
+affair. Before he set himself down to read it steadily through,
+Ravenspur glanced at the last paragraph, to find that the preliminary
+inquiry had been adjourned for a week. Most of the florid sensational
+paragraphs contained nothing new. The only point that interested the
+reader was the medical evidence.
+
+This was compact and to the point. Death had been undoubtedly due to a
+stab over the heart which had been inflicted by some long, pointed
+instrument, not much thicker, apparently, than a needle. So far as the
+police doctor could say, the weapon used had been an Italian stiletto.
+There was practically no blood. Indeed, the whole thing had been
+accomplished in a cool and deliberate manner by a man who was not only
+master of his art, but who must have possessed a considerable
+knowledge of anatomy. Evidently he had chosen a spot to inflict the
+wound with careful deliberation, for the deviation of half an inch
+either way might have produced comparatively harmless results. It was
+the opinion of the doctor that, had the fatal thrust been made through
+the bare skin, all traces of it might have been overlooked. It was
+only the adherence of the dead man's singlet to the tiny puncture that
+had caused sufficient inflammation to attach suspicion to the point of
+impact. All this pointed to the fact that the crime had been clearly
+premeditated and carried out coldly and deliberately.
+
+For the moment, however, the great puzzle was to discover how the
+murderer had been aware that he would be in a position to find his
+victim at Fitzjohn Square. It was proved conclusively enough that
+Louis Delahay had come back to England on the spur of the moment, and
+that equally on the spur of the moment he had made up his mind to
+visit his house, and, therefore, nobody could possibly have known
+besides his wife when he had left the Grand Hotel. On this point
+public curiosity would have to wait, seeing that Mrs. Delahay was in
+no condition to explain. In fact, she was in the hands of a medical
+man who had prescribed absolute quiet for the present.
+
+Ravenspur tossed the paper impatiently aside, and rang for his tea.
+The slow day dragged along until it was time for him to dress and
+prepare for the reception of his guests. He came down presently to the
+drawing-room, where one or two of the men had already assembled. His
+old pleasant smile was on his face now. He was once more the polished,
+courtly man of the world. He steeled himself for what he knew was
+coming. Practically the whole of his guests were artists of
+distinction. And the death of Louis Delahay would be the one topic of
+conversation. The blinds were down now, for the young spring night had
+drawn in rapidly and it was perfectly dark outside. The clock struck
+the hour of eight, and the butler glanced in inquiringly. Ravenspur
+shook his head.
+
+"Not quite yet, Simmonds," he said; "we are waiting for Sir James
+Seton. As he is usually the soul of punctuality he is not likely to
+detain us."
+
+"You can take his place if necessary," one of the guests laughed.
+"When I see Seton and our host together I always feel quite
+bewildered. Two such public men had no business to be so absurdly
+alike."
+
+"There is no real 'resemblance,'" Ravenspur laughed, "though people are
+constantly making absurd mistakes. It is excusable to mistake one for
+the other in the dark, but not in the daylight. Besides, Seton is a
+much taller man than I am, and much slimmer. We should hear nothing
+about this likeness, but for certain gentlemen of the Press who make
+their living out of little paragraphs."
+
+"Well, they have got plenty to occupy their attention now," another
+guest remarked. "This business of poor Delahay's is likely to give
+them occupation for some time. Tell us all about it, Ravenspur. I hear
+that you were down at Fitzjohn Square this morning. Is there anything
+fresh?"
+
+Ravenspur groaned in his spirit. All the same, his manner was polished
+and easy as he turned to the speaker. But before he had time to give
+any details there was a sound of excited voices in the hall outside,
+the banging of a door or two, and then a tall, elderly man staggered
+into the room, and fell into a seat. There was an ugly scar on the
+side of his face, a few drops of blood stained his immaculate
+shirt-front.
+
+"Good Heavens!" Ravenspur cried. "My dear Seton, what is the matter?
+Simmonds, bring the brandy here at once."
+
+"No, no," the newcomer gasped; "I shall be all right in a minute or
+two. A most extraordinary thing happened to me just now. I was coming
+towards the Lane by the back of Lord Fairhaven's house on my way here
+when a man came out from under the shadow of the trees, and commenced
+a violent attack upon me. Fortunately, I was able to ward him off with
+my stick, but not before he had marked me in the way you see. Somebody
+happened to be coming along, and my assailant vanished. Still, it was
+a nasty adventure, and all the more extraordinary because the fellow
+evidently mistook me for our friend Ravenspur. He actually called me
+by that name."
+
+All eyes were turned in the host's direction, for a strange, choking
+cry burst from his lips.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+A WOMAN'S FACE.
+
+
+It was such an unusual thing for Lord Ravenspur to show his feelings
+so plainly. For the most part he passed as one of the most
+self-contained men in London. He had always boasted, too, of perfect
+health. His nerves were in the best condition. And now he had started
+to his feet, his hand pressed to his heart, his face white, and wet
+with terror. More than one of the guests came forward, but Ravenspur
+waved them aside.
+
+"I am behaving like a child," he said. "I suppose the time comes when
+all of us begin to feel the effect of approaching age. I don't know
+why Seton's misfortunes should have upset me so much. But, perhaps,
+coming on the horrors of this morning, it has been a little too much
+for me. It is a most scandalous thing that a gentleman can't go out to
+dinner without being molested in this fashion. What are the police
+thinking about?"
+
+Ravenspur spoke in hot indignation; in fact, he was slightly overdoing
+it. He fussed about Seton, and insisted that the latter should go up
+to his room, which suggestion the guest waived aside. He was the far
+more collected of the two.
+
+"Oh, nonsense," he said; "a canful of hot water will repair all the
+damage. Don't you worry about me. You go in to dinner, and leave me to
+young Walter here."
+
+A door opened at that moment, and a young man entered, and came
+eagerly across the room in the direction of the speaker. Walter Lance
+might have been Lord Ravenspur as he had been twenty years ago. As a
+matter of fact, they were uncle and nephew, Lance being the son of
+Ravenspur's favorite sister, who had died some years before. For the
+rest, he was a barrister eagerly waiting his chance of success, and,
+in the meantime, occupied himself in the capacity of Ravenspur's
+private secretary. He seemed to have heard all that had taken place.
+He was warm in his sympathy as he piloted Sir James Seton to his own
+room. They were going down again almost before the dinner gong had
+ceased to sound, and by this time a knot of dinner guests were
+discussing ordinary topics again.
+
+To the casual observer there was no sign of trouble or tragedy here.
+Everything was perfect in its way. The oval table glittered with
+silver and old Bohemian glass. The banks of flowers might have been
+arranged by the master hand of an artist. Ravenspur sat there gaily
+enough now, his conversation gleaming with wit and humour, the most
+perfect host in London. There was no sign whatever of his earlier
+agitation. And yet, strive as he would, from time to time the name of
+Louis Delahay crept into the conversation. It was in vain that Lord
+Ravenspur attempted to turn the stream of thought into other channels.
+He was glad enough at length when the dinner came to an end, and the
+party of guests broke up into little groups. The host approached Seton
+presently with a request to know whether he would care to play bridge
+or not.
+
+"No bridge," Sir James said emphatically. "I am tired of the tyranny
+of it. I wonder that you should make such a suggestion, Ravenspur,
+seeing how you detest the commonplace. But, at any rate, I will have
+another of those excellent cigarettes of yours."
+
+"It shall be just as you please, my friends," Ravenspur said wearily.
+"Now let us go and have a coffee in the studio. It is much cooler
+there, and there is more space to breathe."
+
+The suggestion was received with general approval, and a move was
+immediately made in the direction of the studio. The apartment lay at
+the end of a long corridor, which cut it off from the rest of the
+house, the studio being in reality a huge garden room, which Ravenspur
+had built for reasons of privacy. He took a latchkey from his pocket
+and opened the door.
+
+"I always keep this place locked," he explained. "Some years ago my
+three Academy pictures were stolen just as they were finished, and
+since then I have taken no risk. The annoying part of the whole thing
+was that one of the missing pictures was the best thing I ever did.
+What became of it is a mystery."
+
+"I remember the picture perfectly well," one of the guests remarked.
+"It was the study of a woman. Do you recollect my coming in one night
+and you asked me my opinion of it?"
+
+"I think I can remember it," Ravenspur said.
+
+"Well, it was a superb piece of work," the first speaker went on;
+"anything more fascinating than the woman's face I don't recollect
+seeing. I don't know who your model was, Ravenspur, but you had a rare
+find in her."
+
+"I had no model," Ravenspur explained. "The face was more or less an
+ideal one--composite, if you like, but resembling nobody in
+particular. However, the thing was a great loss to me, and I have
+never ceased to regret it. That is why I always keep this place locked
+up; even when the room is cleaned out, I am always present to see that
+nothing is disturbed. It is a whim of mine."
+
+As he spoke Ravenspur switched on the electric lights, until the whole
+of the beautiful apartment glowed to the illumination of the shaded
+lamps. The studio itself was circular in shape, and finished in a
+great dome of stained glass. The floor was littered with rare old
+Persian carpets, and lounges from all parts of the world were dotted
+about here and there. Round the walls was an almost unique collection
+of armour. From the centre of the floor rose a fine acacia tree, the
+vivid green foliage of which seemed to suffer nothing from being cut
+off from the outer light and air. Altogether the place was quite
+unique in its way, and striking evidence of Ravenspur's originality
+and good taste. On little tables here and there were hundreds of
+photographs, most of them signed, testifying to the great popularity
+which Ravenspur enjoyed amongst all classes of society.
+
+"You will have to leave these to the Nation," a guest laughed. "What a
+cosmopolitan gallery it is--a prince on the one side, and a prominent
+socialist on the other! Yet, after all, photographs are very
+commonplace things. You might look over a thousand before your fancy
+is taken by a face like this."
+
+As he spoke the guest took up a portrait from one of the tables, and
+held it out at arm's length, so that the light fell upon the features.
+Unlike the rest, the photograph was not framed, and, judging from the
+edges, it had had a certain amount of rough usage in its time. As to
+the picture itself, it presented the features of a young and beautiful
+girl, with a great cloud of hair hanging over her shoulders. There was
+something almost tragic in the dark eyes; they seemed to tell a story
+all their own.
+
+"A beautiful face," the guest went on. "The sort of face that a poet
+would weave an epic around. I don't want to be impertinent, Ravenspur,
+but I should like to know who she is."
+
+"Where did you get that from?" Ravenspur asked. His voice sounded hard
+and cold, so that the man with the photograph in his hand turned in
+some surprise. "Where did you find it?"
+
+"My dear fellow, I took it up off this table, as you might have done.
+Of course, it is no business of mine, and I am sorry if any careless
+words I have spoken----"
+
+"The apology is mine," Ravenspur put in quickly. "I was annoyed, just
+for the moment, to think that that portrait should have been left
+about. I could have sworn that I had locked it carefully away in a
+safe. You are perfectly right, my dear Seymour, there is a tragedy
+behind that charming face. But you will quite understand that I cannot
+discuss the matter with anybody."
+
+"Oh, quite," the offending guest said hastily. "Still, it is a most
+lovely face. Now who does it remind me of?"
+
+"The likeness is plain enough," Seton put in. "Why, it is the very
+image of our host's young ward, Miss Vera Rayne. Is there any
+relationship between them, Ravenspur?"
+
+"Why, so it is!" Walter Lance cried. "Who can she be, uncle?"
+
+Ravenspur had crossed the studio in the direction of a safe let into
+the wall. He placed his hand in one of the little pigeon holes there,
+as if seeking for something. Apparently he was unsuccessful in his
+search, for he shook his head doubtfully.
+
+"Not there," Ravenspur said to himself. "Most extraordinary lapse of
+memory on my part. Of course, I must have taken that photograph from
+the safe when I was looking for something else, and----"
+
+The speaker broke off abruptly. He slammed the door of the safe behind
+him, and returned to his guests. But the light had gone out of his
+eyes; he seemed to have suddenly aged.
+
+"Let us have some coffee," he said. "Is it true, Marrion, that there
+is likely to be a serious split in the cabinet?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+VERA RAYNE.
+
+
+The conversation became more general now, so that it was possible a
+moment later for Ravenspur to slip out of the studio without his
+absence being observed. He went swiftly away to the library, where he
+hastily dashed off a note, which he handed over to a servant to be
+delivered immediately. He seemed to be somewhat easier in his mind
+now, for the smile had come back to his lips. The smile became deeper,
+and a shade more tender, as a young girl came into the room. She had
+evidently just returned from some social function, for she was in
+evening dress, with a light silken cloud thrown over her fair hair.
+Save for the brilliancy of her eyes, and the happy smile upon her
+lips, she bore a strong resemblance to the mysterious photograph,
+which had so disturbed Ravenspur a little time before. She crossed the
+room gaily, and kissed Ravenspur lightly on the cheek.
+
+"So your friends have all gone?" she asked.
+
+"No; they are still in the studio. But, tell me, have you had a very
+enjoyable evening? And how is it that you are back so soon?"
+
+A faint splash of colour crept into the girl's cheeks. She seemed to
+be just a little embarrassed by the apparently simple question.
+
+"Oh, I don't know," she said. "One gets tired of going out every
+night. And it was rather dull. I daresay all this sounds very
+ungrateful when you give me everything I could desire. But I am
+longing to get into the country again. It seems almost a crime for
+people to shut themselves up in dusty London, when the country is
+looking at its very best. Do you know, I was far happier when I was
+down in Hampshire."
+
+"Well, we can't have everything our own way," Ravenspur smiled.
+"Still, we shall see what will happen later on. And now, I really must
+go back again to my guests."
+
+Vera Rayne threw herself carelessly down into a chair. A little sigh
+escaped her lips. She ought to have been happy enough. She had all the
+blessings that good health and great wealth could procure. And yet
+there were crumpled rose leaves on her couch of down. The thoughtful
+look on her face deepened. She sat there so deeply immersed in her own
+reflections, that she was quite oblivious to the fact that she was no
+longer alone. Walter Lance had come into the room. He addressed the
+girl twice before he obtained any response. Then she looked up, and a
+wistful, tender smile lighted up her beautiful face.
+
+"I was thinking," she said. "Do you know, Walter, I have been thinking
+a good deal lately. I suppose I am naturally more discontented than
+most girls, but I am getting very tired of this sort of life. Pleasure
+is so monotonous."
+
+"Ungrateful," Walter laughed. He came and stood close to the speaker's
+side so that he could see down into the depths of her eyes, which were
+now turned fully upon his. "There are thousands of girls who envy your
+fortunate lot."
+
+"I don't know why they should. You see, it is all very well for me to
+go on like this. It is all very well to be a fascinating mystery. The
+time has come when I ought to know things. For instance, I should like
+to know who I really am."
+
+"What does it matter?" Lance asked. "What does it matter so long as
+I--so long as we all care for you. My dear girl, you pain me. And when
+you speak in that cold, not to say arbitrary way, as if--as
+if--really, Vera! It isn't that I want you to be more worldly than you
+are----"
+
+"But then you see, I am not worldly, Walter. And I really should like
+to know who I am, and where I came from. It is all very well to tell
+people that I am the daughter of an old friend of Lord Ravenspur, and
+that he adopted me when my father died. That is sufficient for our
+friends and acquaintances, and seems to satisfy them, but it does not
+satisfy me. When I ask Lord Ravenspur about my parents he puts me off
+with one excuse or another, and if I insist he becomes quite stern and
+angry. He is so good to me that I don't like to bother him. And yet I
+can't go on like this."
+
+Walter Lance looked somewhat uneasily at the speaker.
+
+"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
+
+"My dear Walter, I mean exactly what I say," Vera said sadly. "I am
+tired of this constant round of pleasure. Really, it seems to me that
+the lives of the rich are quite as monotonous as those of the poor. We
+go our weary round of dinner and dance and reception, varied by an
+occasional theatre or concert. We see the same faces, and take part in
+the same vapid conversation---- Oh, Walter, how much nicer it would be
+to get one's own living!"
+
+"How would you get yours?" Lance laughed.
+
+"Well, at any rate, I could try. And that is what I am going to do,
+Walter. I have fully made up my mind not to stay here any longer.
+Don't think that I am ungrateful, or that I do not recognise Lord
+Ravenspur's great kindness to me. But you see I have no claim upon
+him, and if anything happened to him tomorrow what would my position
+be? I know he has a large income from his property, but that will go
+to his successor some day. Oh, I know you will think that this is very
+hard and cold of me, but there are reasons, many and urgent reasons,
+why it is impossible----"
+
+Vera broke off abruptly, and Walter could see that the tears had
+gathered in her eyes. There was something in those eyes, too, that
+caused his heart to beat a trifle faster, and brought him still closer
+to her side.
+
+"Won't you tell me what it is?" he whispered. "We have always been
+such good friends, Vera. Forgive me asking you, but isn't this
+decision on your part rather a sudden one?"
+
+"Oh, I am quite prepared to admit that," the girl said candidly, "and
+I wish I could explain. But you would not understand--was there ever a
+man yet who really understood a woman? The thing that you call impulse
+. . . I know that Lord Ravenspur had his own ideas as to my future,
+the same as he has in regard to yours."
+
+"Oh, indeed," Walter said drily; "that is news to me. And in what way
+is my uncle interested in my welfare?"
+
+"Do you mean to say he hasn't told you? He has mentioned it to me at
+least a score of times. You are going to marry Lady Clara Vavasour.
+That much is settled."
+
+"Really, now, that is very kind of my uncle. But, unfortunately, I
+have views of my own on the subject. Lady Clara is a very nice girl,
+and I understand that she is rich, but she does not appeal to me in
+the least. My dear Vera, surely you are mistaken. Surely my uncle must
+have guessed, he could not be so blind as not to see--Vera, dearest,
+cannot you understand what I mean? Do you suppose that I could
+possibly have known you all this time without--without---- You know, I
+am certain that you know."
+
+"Oh, no, no," Vera cried; "you must not speak like that. I cannot
+listen to you. I know that Lord Ravenspur has set his heart upon this
+marriage, and it would be the basest ingratitude on my part if
+I----but what am I talking about?"
+
+The girl broke off in some confusion. The faint pink oh her cheeks
+turned to a deeper crimson. Her eyes were cast down; she did not seem
+to realise that Walter had her hands in his, that he had drawn her
+close to his side.
+
+"I must speak," he said huskily. "Even at the risk of your thinking me
+the most conceited man on earth, I must tell you what is uppermost in
+my mind now. My dear girl, I have known you ever since you were a
+little child. From the very first we have been the best of friends. I
+have watched you change from a girl to a woman. I have watched your
+mind expanding, and gradually I have come to know that you are the one
+girl in the world for me. I have not spoken like this before, because
+there seemed to be no need to do so. Everything was so natural, there
+did not appear to be any other end to a love like mine. But if I have
+been wrong, and if you tell me that you care nothing for me----"
+
+"I couldn't," Vera whispered. "Oh, Walter, if you only knew----"
+
+"Then you do care for me, my dearest. Yes, I can see it in your face,
+there is always the truth in your eyes. And now I can speak more
+freely. You were going away from here out of loyalty to my uncle, and
+because you deem it your duty to sacrifice your feelings rather than
+interfere with his plans. But, my dear girl, don't you see what a
+needless sacrifice it would be? Don't you see that any such action on
+your part would be worse than useless? But I will speak to you about
+this tomorrow. I am quite sure he is not the man to stand between us
+and our happiness. Would that I had thought of this before. I am sure
+that it would have saved you many an anxious moment."
+
+Vera shook her head sadly. Walter's arms were about her now, her head
+rested on his shoulder. Just for the moment they were absolutely
+oblivious to the world. They heard nothing of the sound of voices as
+Lord Ravenspur's guests drifted away; they were unconscious that he
+was standing in the doorway, now regarding them with stern
+disapproval. He hesitated just a moment, then he strode into the room.
+Walter had never seen his face so hard and cold before.
+
+"I am sorry to intrude," he said, "but there is something I have to
+say to you, Walter. It is getting late now, Vera, and quite time that
+you were in bed."
+
+The girl looked up with something like rebellion in her eyes.
+
+"I am going into the drawing-room for half an hour," she said.
+"Perhaps Walter will come and say goodnight to me when you have
+finished your conversation. I think you understand what I mean. And
+don't be too hard on me. If you only knew how I have tried to do
+what--what----"
+
+The tears rose to Vera's eyes, as she turned slowly and sadly away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+A VOICE IN THE DARK.
+
+
+Vera turned away and walked quietly from the room, leaving the two men
+face to face. Lord Ravenspur was the first to speak.
+
+"I am sorry for this," he said; "more sorry than I can tell you.
+Strange how one should be so wilfully blind. Strange how frequently
+even the cleverest man will overlook the inevitable. But I suppose I
+thought that you two had come to regard one another as brother and
+sister. Oh, I am not disputing your taste. There is not a more
+beautiful and fascinating girl in London than Vera. It is only natural
+that you should fall in love with her. But she knows the views I have
+for you. She knows to what an extent she is indebted to me. That being
+so it is her plain duty----"
+
+"My dear uncle," Walter broke in eagerly, "if there is anybody to
+blame, it is I. Vera knows her duty plainly enough, and she would have
+acted upon it but for me. When I came in here tonight I was struck by
+the unhappiness of her face, and, naturally, I began to ask questions.
+It seems an egotistical thing to say, but Vera is as deeply attached
+to me as I am to her, and that was the source of her trouble. She had
+made up her mind to go away. She had made up her mind to get her own
+living. And why? Simply because she knew that you had other views for
+me, and that she stood in the way of your plans. It was only by a mere
+accident that the whole thing came out. But I have spoken the words
+now that are beyond recall, even if I wished to recall them, which I
+do not. There will never be another woman in the world for me."
+
+"But the thing is impossible," Lord Ravenspur broke out harshly. "It
+is absolutely out of the question. I had other views for you, but I
+certainly should not have pressed them against your wishes. But all
+that is as nothing compared to this--this tragedy. I blame myself
+bitterly for my want of foresight. My conduct has been almost
+criminal. But, be that as it may, there must be no engagement between
+Vera and yourself. Don't press me to tell you why, because my lips are
+sealed, and I dare not speak. But, as you value your future, I implore
+you to carry this thing no further. I know this sounds an outrageous
+request, but I am speaking from the bottom of my heart. It is the
+fashion of the world to regard me as one of the most fortunate and
+enviable of men. I tell you, with all the force at my command, that I
+would cheerfully change places with the humblest labourer on my
+estate. I have never dropped the mask before, and I probably never
+shall again. I am only doing it now so that you may be warned in time.
+Go back to Vera, and tell her what I say. Tell her that there are
+urgent reasons why a marriage between you is utterly out of the
+question. And if you will persist in having your own way, then let me
+ask you one final favour. Let the engagement be kept a secret. And now
+I have no more to say. Perhaps I have said too much as it is, only if
+you were aware what the last twenty-four hours has brought forth----"
+
+Ravenspur broke off abruptly as if fearful of saying too much. His
+whole attitude had changed; his features quivered with an almost
+uncontrollable emotion. Then he turned on his heel, and strode down
+the corridor in the direction of the studio. Walter could hear the
+latch of the door click as it closed behind him. . . .
+
+Ravenspur was alone with his own troubled thoughts. For a long time he
+paced up and down the room, then he took up the photograph which had
+excited so much attention amongst his guests earlier in the evening.
+He laid it down on a little table, and gazed at the face there long
+and sadly.
+
+"Amazing!" Ravenspur muttered to himself. "Absolutely inexplicable! I
+could have sworn that I had the photograph still under lock and key.
+When did I take it from the safe, and why? Beyond all question, it was
+not on the table yesterday. Is this a mere coincidence, or is it a
+menace and warning of the old trouble which has never ceased to be
+with me night and day the last twenty years? And how the whole thing
+works together! First of all, poor Delahay is found murdered in his
+studio, and now something like the same thing happens to one of my
+guests who was unquestionably mistaken for me in the darkness. And as
+if that was not enough, those two young fools must take it into their
+heads to fancy that they are in love with one another. Heaven only
+knows how I shall make my way out of this terrible coil, even if I
+have the good luck to escape the consequences of my folly! The most
+fortunate man in London! The most popular and most sought for! What a
+bitter travesty upon the truth it is! If they only knew! If there were
+only some power to lift the roof off of every house in London, what
+tragedies would be revealed! And how many friends would be left to
+me?"
+
+Time was going on. A dozen clocks in different parts of the house
+struck twelve. As Ravenspur stood by the table, his moody eyes still
+bent upon the photographs, there was a sudden click and snap, and the
+whole place was plunged in darkness. The thing was so quick and
+unexpected that something like a cry of alarm broke from Ravenspur's
+lips. It all came to him in a flash that the tragedy of Fitzjohn
+Square was going to be repeated with himself in the _rôle_ of the
+victim. This is just what had happened the previous evening, only
+there had been nothing to try his nerves then as they were being
+strained to breaking point now. Shaking and agitated in every limb he
+made his way across to where the switches were, but there was nothing
+wrong with them. He could hear no commotion in the house, such as
+would naturally follow the extinguishing of the light. Indeed,
+underneath the doorway he could see by the slit of light that the
+electrics in the corridor were still working.
+
+The full horror of it was almost more than he could bear. A wild
+desire for light and companionship came upon him. His unsteady hand
+fumbled at the latch, which seemed in some way to have gone wrong, for
+the door refused to open. Ravenspur was breathing thickly and heavily.
+But he was sufficiently in possession of his faculties to realise that
+he was no longer alone in the room. He could distinctly hear someone
+breathing close to him. Then he caught the sound of a low chuckle.
+
+"Not so fast," a voice hissed in his ear; "I haven't come all this way
+for the benefit of your society to lose you like this. You needn't
+worry about the door, because you can't escape in that way."
+
+In a sudden frenzy of rage and anger and fear, Ravenspur stretched out
+his arm and encountered that of the mysterious stranger, whose
+dramatic entrance had so startled him. But, strong man as he was, and
+in the pink of good condition, Ravenspur could make nothing of his
+assailant. The man appeared to be not more than half his size, but his
+arms and body were tough and elastic as the finest whipcord. Gradually
+Ravenspur was borne backward. He dropped on his knees with a grip
+about his throat that caused him to gasp for breath, and brought a
+million stars dancing before his eyes. He wanted help more earnestly
+than he had ever required it in his life before, but his pride was
+stubborn still, and he tried to choke down the cry which rose to his
+lips. He must fight for himself to the end.
+
+
+"So that is to be the end of it?" Vera asked. "It breaks my heart to
+speak like this, but after what Lord Ravenspur has said, there must be
+an end to the matter."
+
+"But, my dearest girl, the thing is absurd," Walter cried. "What have
+we done that we should be treated in this way? Surely our position is
+clear enough. We are to be parted for the sake of some ridiculous whim
+which is not even capable of an explanation. I am not going to leave
+matters here. I decline to obey until I know the reason why. At any
+rate, nothing can prevent our loving each other. And, as far as I am
+concerned, I am quite prepared to keep the matter secret between us.
+But I intend to have the matter out with my uncle before I sleep
+tonight. I am not a boy to be treated in this sentimental fashion. So
+long as I know that your feelings remain unchanged----"
+
+"What is that?" Vera cried. "Didn't you hear anything--a kind of
+horrible muffled scream? There it is again."
+
+The sound came again and again, ringing through the silent house,
+horrible and insistent in its note of tragedy. Vera turned a pale,
+scared face to her companion.
+
+"Where is it?" she gasped. "Where does it come from?"
+
+"The studio," Walter exclaimed. "It is my uncle's voice. Something
+terrible has happened to him."
+
+Without another word Walter dashed from the room, and flew along the
+corridor leading to the studio. Just for a moment there was a
+strained, tense silence; then, as the door of the studio was reached,
+a strange, muffled scream burst out again. With his hand on the lock
+Walter shook the door, which refused to give way to him. He called
+aloud on Ravenspur, but no reply came. He shook the door in a fit of
+angry exasperation, and once more from inside the room came that
+queer, choking noise, followed by a low chuckle. It was maddening,
+exasperating to a degree, to stand so close to the threshold of
+tragedy and yet to be so far away.
+
+There was only one thing for it, and that was to break down the door.
+Flinging himself full against the woodwork, Walter literally forced
+his way in. Then he stood just for a moment looking into the gloom and
+darkness, trying to see where the figure of the unhappy man lay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+THE YELLOW HAND-BILL.
+
+
+The suggestion of tragedy brooding in the darkness held Lance back
+just for the moment. He was almost afraid to proceed lest he should
+find something even worse than he had expected. Then his hand fumbled
+along the wall with the switches, and the great room burst into a glow
+of light again.
+
+The place was absolutely empty, save for the figure of Lord Ravenspur
+huddled up upon the Persian rug. He was absolutely still and silent.
+As far as Lance could see he had ceased to breathe.
+
+Naturally enough the young man looked about him for a sign of the
+miscreant, but the studio contained no trace of his presence. The
+thing was puzzling to the last degree. There was no exit from the room
+beyond the door which Walter had broken down, and nobody could
+possibly have passed him that way. Besides, the switches were just
+inside the door, and the light had been turned on almost immediately.
+At any rate, there was nobody there now except the victim of the
+attack himself, and Walter feared that he was already past any
+explanation of the strange affair.
+
+That would have to keep for the present. Walter bent over and raised
+Lord Ravenspur's head and shoulders. He was still alive, for his eyes
+were wide open, though no words came from his lips. At the same time
+he seemed to be struggling for speech which would not come. Then he
+raised a shaking arm and contrived to pull Walter's head down close to
+his lips. The words came at length in a faint whisper, a whisper so
+low, that Walter had the greatest difficulty in following it.
+
+"Don't let anybody know. It is absolutely necessary that no one should
+know," Lord Ravenspur faltered. "If there is any alarm, I pray you go
+and allay it at once. Say that I had fallen asleep and was suffering
+from nightmare. Say I had a horrible dream. Say anything, so long as
+you respect my secret. Now go."
+
+There was nothing to do but to obey this mysterious request. At the
+end of the corridor Vera was waiting with an anxious face. It was no
+nice thing to prevaricate, it would have to be done. Walter spoke as
+lightly as possible.
+
+"There is no occasion for alarm," he said. "Lord Ravenspur says that
+he fell asleep and had a horrible nightmare. At any rate, he seems to
+be all right now. You had better go to bed. I am sorry that you should
+have been so much alarmed."
+
+To Walter's great relief, Vera asked no further questions. She turned
+away obediently enough, and he hurried back to the studio. Lord
+Ravenspur still lay on the Persian rug, but with Walter's help he
+contrived to get into a chair. A little brandy brought some trace of
+colour to his face. He seemed more like himself again. "They heard
+nothing in the house?" he asked anxiously.
+
+"Only Vera," Walter explained. "She was terribly frightened, but she
+believed what I told her, and she has gone up to her room. And now,
+perhaps, you will tell me the truth."
+
+"Do you think I have not already done so?"
+
+"My dear uncle, I am sure of it. I know it is possible for people to
+make the most hideous noises when they are suffering from nightmare,
+but this is quite another matter. You called aloud for help. You were
+in imminent danger of losing your life. Before I broke the door down I
+distinctly heard somebody give a low chuckle. Of course, you can make
+light of this in the morning. You can induce people to laugh at your
+absurd situation, but you cannot deceive me. I know there was someone
+in the room when I forced the door."
+
+"Then where is he now, Walter?" Lord Ravenspur asked.
+
+"Ah, that I cannot tell; but he was here right enough."
+
+"He passed you in the corridor?"
+
+"That he most certainly did not. Nobody came out that way."
+
+A faint smile came to Lord Ravenspur's lips. He indicated the room
+with a wave of his hand.
+
+"I see exactly what you mean," Walter said. "Of course, if you do not
+feel inclined to tell me the truth I cannot compel you to do so. But I
+have only to look at you, to see that you have lately been through a
+desperate struggle with someone who came here to take your life. You
+are absolutely exhausted with the severity of it. If I had my own way
+I would put the matter in the hands of the police."
+
+"No, no," Ravenspur said vehemently. "If you have the slightest regard
+for me you will not venture to say a word to a soul. I want the whole
+thing to be forgotten. If I remain in my room all tomorrow under the
+plea of indisposition, I shall be all right the next day. You are to
+give me your word of honour that you will say nothing of what you have
+seen tonight."
+
+"If you wish it so, certainly," Walter said reluctantly.
+
+"My dear uncle, won't you trust me? I would do anything to help you.
+And besides, how are you going to guard against this happening again?
+
+"A bloodthirsty ruffian who can enter a house and vanish in this
+mysterious fashion, is not likely to be put off, if he knows you are
+going to take no steps to guard yourself against a further attack. But
+what has become of him?"
+
+"I haven't the slightest idea," Ravenspur said wearily. "I was sitting
+in my chair when the light suddenly went out and I heard the door
+locked. Then I had to fight for my life, and was nearly done for when
+I called out for assistance."
+
+"And you saw nothing of him?" Walter asked.
+
+"Nothing whatever," Ravenspur went on. "I could only feel him. And
+after that I recollect no more till you came."
+
+"A most extraordinary thing," Walter said, somewhat impatiently.
+"Surely you have some idea as to who the man is. Surely he must be the
+same man who mistook Sir James Seton for yourself tonight."
+
+No reply came from Lord Ravenspur. Evidently he desired to say no
+more. He seemed anxious to be alone. But Walter, angry and hurt,
+walked rapidly about the room seeking for a way whereby the late
+visitor had vanished. But he looked in vain. There was no possible
+means of exit other than the door, and the fireplace was too narrow to
+admit of anybody coming or going. As to the roof, it was of heavy
+stained glass, and as impregnable as the walls themselves. The mystery
+was maddening. And yet the one man who could have explained it all sat
+there silent, and moody, and tongue tied.
+
+"Is there anything more that I can do for you before I go to bed?"
+Walter asked. "Are you sure I can't help you?"
+
+"I am afraid not, my boy," Ravenspur said in a dull, mechanical way.
+"I know that you won't chatter about this thing. And, perhaps, a
+little later on, I shall be able to speak more plainly. I shall be
+glad if you will help me up the stairs and get me into bed. I have had
+a great shock tonight."
+
+It seemed almost cruel to pursue the subject further, and Walter
+refrained from questions as he noticed the ghastly whiteness of his
+uncle's face. The latter was disposed of at length, and then Walter
+came downstairs again. He now had the house practically to himself.
+All desire for sleep had forsaken him. Besides that, it was no nice
+thought to reflect on the possibility of that ruffian being still on
+the premises. Walter had not the slightest doubt in his mind that the
+man had left the studio in some secret manner, and that he had come
+there through no ordinary channel. What was to prevent him returning
+again when the house was asleep and finishing his work? In itself, the
+fact of Lord Ravenspur possessing a bitter enemy was remarkable. And
+Lord Ravenspur's obstinate silence was more remarkable still. Walter
+had given his word to say nothing of these strange events, but that
+did not bind him from making inquiries on his own account.
+
+He returned to the studio once more and made a thoroughly searching
+examination of the place. Was there some secret door which Lord
+Ravenspur used, and of which nobody knew anything? It had never
+occurred to Walter till that moment that his uncle might have
+turned-down pages in his life, but that conclusion was inevitable now.
+Still, though Walter spent the best part of an hour in his search, he
+had nothing to show for his pains. He was about to give up the thing
+in despair when a piece of yellow paper, lying by the side of the
+Persian rug where Lord Ravenspur had fallen, attracted his attention.
+It was a small, shabby sheet of paper, folded in four and printed from
+worn-out type, in fact, just the class of bill which is circulated
+amongst travelling circuses and shows of that kind. It was the last
+thing in the world that anyone would have looked for in the studio of
+so fastidious a man as Lord Ravenspur. Slowly and thoughtfully Walter
+unfolded and read the handbill. It was an advertisement of the
+nightly programme of the Imperial Palace Theatre. The name of the
+place sounded imposing enough, but the locality of Vauxhall Bridge
+Road somewhat detracted from the importance of it. So far as Walter
+could judge, the Imperial Palace Theatre was no more than a shady
+music hall giving two shows a night, and most of the names on the bill
+were absolutely unknown to fame. The star turn appeared to be one
+Valdo, who was announced as the flying man who had made such a
+sensation throughout the leading halls in Europe.
+
+"I wonder if this is a clue," Walter murmured to himself. "At any
+rate, I should like to see this Valdo. I'll go down to the Imperial
+Palace tomorrow night and enquire for myself."
+
+Walter folded up the shabby bill and placed it in his pocket, after
+which he went thoughtfully to bed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
+
+
+Nobody in the Park Lane house appeared to have the slightest suspicion
+that anything had been wrong. The stolid, well-trained servants
+accepted the explanation of the broken door quite as a matter of
+course. And when Vera had come down in the morning she appeared to
+have forgotten the incident entirely. Lord Ravenspur was not feeling
+particularly well, and he had decided to keep to his room for the day.
+The explanation was perfectly simple and quite natural. All the same,
+Walter was thankful that Vera should ask him no questions. It was no
+easy matter to preserve a cheerful and unconcerned face at the
+breakfast table, but he seemed to manage it all right. He was just a
+little quiet and subdued, but then there was nothing remarkable about
+that, especially in view of Lord Ravenspur's feelings on the subject
+of his engagement to Vera.
+
+The day dragged on, and Walter waited with what patience he had till
+the evening. He was not displeased to find that Vera was dining out
+with some friends in Sloane Square, for this would give him the
+opportunity he needed. He changed his dinner jacket presently for an
+old tweed coat and cap. Then he set out on his errand in Vauxhall
+Bridge Road. Walter was not alone on this occasion, for he was
+accompanied by a journalist friend whose particular study was the life
+and habits of the lower classes. It was this friend who had suggested
+the advisability of the humble garb, so that they could thus mix
+freely with the people around them. Walter congratulated himself upon
+his friend's prudence when he saw the class of audience that filled
+the Imperial Palace Theatre.
+
+The place was large enough, and by no means lacked artistic finish. At
+one time it had been an actual theatre, run by some enthusiast with a
+view to the elevation of the masses and the production of high-class
+plays at popular prices. The experiment had ended in a ghastly
+failure, and now a shrewd, hard-headed publican in the neighbourhood
+was making a fortune by the simple expedient of giving his patrons
+exactly what they required.
+
+"What part of the house shall we try?" Walter asked.
+
+"We can't do better than the pit," Venables replied. "That will cost
+you sixpence, or perhaps, if you like to be extravagant, we can have a
+box for half-a-crown. Still, we don't want to make ourselves
+conspicuous. The pit is quite good enough for me. You can smoke here,
+you know, and drink too, for the matter of that. But I should not
+advise you to try the latter experiment."
+
+The house was fairly well filled as the two friends entered and took
+their seats. The audience for the most part were respectable enough,
+but the whole place reeked with perspiring humanity, and the air was
+pungent with the smell of acrid tobacco. A constant fusillade of chaff
+went on between the stage and the audience. Indeed, the artistes, for
+the most part, appeared to be on the most friendly terms with the
+_habitués_ of the theatre. A dreary-looking comedian was singing one
+of the inevitable patter songs, full of the feeble allusions to drink
+without which songs of that kind never appear to be complete. The
+audience listened stolidly enough.
+
+"Are they never going to tire of this kind of thing?" Walter asked his
+companion. "Is there nothing humorous in the world outside the region
+of too much beer? These people sadden me."
+
+"Oh, they are all right," Venables said, cheerfully. "They are quite
+happy in their own particular way. I have long ceased to look for
+anything fresh on the music hall stage. An original artist and an
+original manner wouldn't be tolerated."
+
+The dreary song came to an end at length; then it was followed by two
+so-called sisters, who, in short skirts and large picture hats,
+discoursed of the joys of country life in a peculiarly aggressive
+Cockney accent. The whole thing was dull and depressing to the last
+degree, and Walter began to regret his loss of time. He noticed from
+his programme that Valdo was down rather late, so there was nothing
+for it but to possess his soul in patience till the time came. It was
+a little past ten o'clock before the stage was cleared, and the
+attendants, in their grimy uniforms, began to erect a series of fine
+wires running from the roof to the floor. Then there was an extra
+flourish from the aggressive orchestra, and a slim man, dressed
+entirely in black, came on to the stage. He was received with great
+enthusiasm and the smiting of glasses upon the tables. Evidently Valdo
+had established himself as a firm favourite with the patrons of the
+Imperial Palace Theatre.
+
+All Walter's apathy had vanished, as he turned to the stage and
+scrutinised the acrobat long and carefully. So far as he could judge,
+Valdo was no Englishman with a foreign name, but a genuine foreigner,
+presumably of Italian birth. The man was not tall or particularly
+broad, but he was well proportioned, and gave the idea of one
+possessed of considerable physical strength. In particular, Walter
+noticed how long his arms were, and how the muscles stood out between
+his shoulders. As to the rest, the man looked mild enough, and his
+dark Southern face was wreathed in an amiable smile.
+
+He proceeded, with the aid of an attendant, to fasten two small curved
+canvas frames to his shoulders. These he thrashed up and down with his
+arms much as a cock flaps its wings before crowing. Then, with an
+agile leap from the stage, the man proceeded to sail up slowly from
+the floor to the flies.
+
+"That's clever," Venables exclaimed. "It looks to me as if our friend
+has solved the art of the flying machine. But one never knows. I
+daresay it is no more than some ingenious trick."
+
+This speech appeared to be resented by a respectable-looking mechanic
+who was occupying the next seat to Venables.
+
+"Nothing of the kind," the man said indignantly. "I've been here three
+nights now, and I know something about mechanics, too. If you think
+that wires are used you are just mistaken. A friend of mine is stage
+carpenter here, and he told me all about it. Depend upon it, that chap
+has got the knack right enough."
+
+The performer fluttered down again from the wings as lightly and
+easily as he had risen, and a tremendous outbreak of applause
+followed. When the din had died away, the stage manager came forward
+and invited any of the audience who chose to come up and see for
+themselves that everything was fair and legitimate, and that no
+mechanism had been employed. The intelligent mechanic turned to
+Venables with a defiant smile.
+
+"Now is your chance, guv'nor," he exclaimed. "You go and smell it out
+for yourself."
+
+Venables would have declined the offer, but already Walter had risen
+eagerly from his seat. The opportunity was too good to be missed.
+Though he did not associate this man Valdo with the mysterious attack
+on Lord Ravenspur's life, he felt quite convinced that the artist was
+indirectly concerned in it. To waste a chance would be the height of
+folly. A moment or two later the two friends were on the stage. They
+stood there whilst the performer went through another series of
+graceful performances, but they could see absolutely nothing which
+suggested mechanical contrivance of any kind. The whole act came to an
+end at length, and Valdo stood there bowing and smiling when his wings
+were removed.
+
+"Let's have a chat with him," Venables whispered. "Apart from the
+thing being decidedly interesting, there ought to be some good 'copy'
+here. Properly worked, Signor Valdo ought to be worth a couple of
+columns to me."
+
+At the suggestion of the "Press," the stage manager pricked up his
+ears. He was not insensible to the value of a good advertisement. He
+suggested a move to his private office, where it would be possible for
+the visitors to interview quietly.
+
+"Nothing I should like better," Walter said eagerly. "Perhaps you will
+come with us, and join us in a bottle of champagne?"
+
+They made their way behind the stage to a dingy little room,
+insufficiently lighted with one gas jet. The back of the stage was in
+a turmoil. It was almost impossible to hear for the din. Then very
+briefly and modestly Valdo told his history. He had found out his
+peculiar powers by a series of experiments with the parachute. The
+whole secret lay, he explained, in the enormously powerful muscles
+between his shoulders and the backs of his arms. The rest was worked
+by the amazing rapidity with which he had learnt to move his arms. So
+far the thing was effective enough, but the strain was so great that,
+hitherto, he had found it impossible to rise to a height of more than
+forty feet. This naturally prevented him from obtaining engagements in
+the larger theatres and halls where so limited a flight would have
+been far less imposing than it appeared to be when performed in a
+place like the Imperial Palace. There was nothing more to be said, and
+the two friends were turning away when a woman put her head into the
+door, and looked inquiringly at Valdo. He muttered something to the
+effect that he would be ready in a moment or two, and the woman
+vanished.
+
+Walter caught his lip in his teeth. It was hard work to conceal his
+surprise. There was no doubt whatever about it, no question as to the
+identity of the intruder. Strange as it appeared to be, Walter
+recognised the features of Mrs. Delahay. There was no mistaking that
+white, stern face. It was only for a moment, but that moment had been
+enough for Lance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+THE CONFIDENTIAL AGENT.
+
+
+All that evening and most of the next day Walter brooded over his
+startling discovery. He said nothing to anybody about it, though he
+had attempted the night previously to follow up the clue. The attempt
+had failed, however, for though Walter had waited outside the theatre,
+he saw no more of Mrs. Delahay. And as to the man Valdo he eventually
+went off by himself. There was nothing for it now but to wait and see
+what was going to happen.
+
+Meanwhile, public interest in the Fitzjohn Square tragedy had not
+abated in the least. Everybody was waiting eagerly enough for the
+inquest, which was to open at four o'clock on the day following the
+mysterious attack upon Lord Ravenspur. The latter had come down
+somewhat late in the morning, looking but little the worse for his
+adventure. It was not expected that the inquest would be more than
+formally opened, and it was generally known that Lord Ravenspur would
+be an important witness.
+
+In view of the extraordinary interest taken in the affair the
+proceedings had been moved to a public hall. Long before the time
+arranged for opening the inquiry the hall was packed to its utmost
+capacity. After the police and medical evidence had been taken, the
+first witness called was Lord Ravenspur. His fine, picturesque figure
+stood out in the strong light. He gave his evidence clearly and well,
+though his voice shook from time to time with emotion, which was only
+natural enough, seeing that the dead man had been so close a friend of
+his.
+
+After all, he had little to tell. He described his late visit to
+Fitzjohn Square, and how he had been at work on a picture there until
+such time as the lights were extinguished and he was forced to abandon
+his task.
+
+"You thought nothing of the lights going out?" the coroner asked. "You
+saw nothing suspicious in that?"
+
+"Well, no," the witness replied. "You see, it is no unusual occurrence
+for the supply of electric light to fail. The thing so easily happens.
+As the house has been empty for some time it occurred to me that
+perhaps there was a fault somewhere, or, perhaps, the workmen had not
+quite finished their job."
+
+"Quite so," the coroner observed. "Tell us, did you hear any noise in
+the house, or any suspicious sounds?"
+
+"Nothing whatever. Until the light went out there was nothing whatever
+to disturb me. In fact, I was so intent upon my work that I was quite
+lost to everything else."
+
+"But you know now," the coroner went on, "that the main cable leading
+to the meter was cut. That being so, somebody must have been in the
+house at the same time as yourself. What I want to get at is this--the
+murderer was deliberately waiting for his victim. He had no quarrel
+with you, and his great idea was to get you out of the way. That
+appears to be obvious."
+
+"It is obvious enough to me," Ravenspur replied. "I came to that
+conclusion directly Inspector Dallas pointed out to me that the main
+cable had been deliberately cut. But you see I suspected nothing wrong
+at the time, and there was nothing else for me to do but to abandon my
+task directly the light went out. I am afraid that I can tell you
+nothing more."
+
+"The deceased was a great friend of yours?" the coroner asked. "I
+presume you know a great deal about his life and habits. Was he at all
+the sort of man to make enemies?"
+
+"The last man in the world," the witness said emphatically. "My friend
+was both upright and straightforward. Indeed, I regarded him as a man
+incapable of a mean action."
+
+One or two desultory questions followed, and then Lord Ravenspur sat
+down. To a certain extent his evidence had been dramatic enough, but,
+at the same time, he had not said a single word likely to throw any
+light on the mystery. The audience thrilled and bent forward eagerly
+as Mrs. Delahay stood up to give her evidence. She was just as deadly
+pale, just as calm and set, as she had been when she called upon
+Ravenspur in Park Lane with the dreadful news. She gave her evidence
+slowly and distinctly, speaking more like an automaton than a creature
+of flesh and blood. She told how she had become alarmed at her
+husband's prolonged absence, how she had gone down to Fitzjohn Square
+to see if anything had happened, how she found the dead body there,
+and how the police had come to her assistance. But more than that she
+could not say, more than that she did not know. So far as she knew her
+husband had always been a cheerful man. She had never heard him say an
+evil word of any one. She had not been married long, in fact she was
+still a bride. Altogether she had known her husband for a little over
+three years. She was older than her husband, she proceeded to say. The
+coroner asked her age.
+
+"I am forty-three," she said calmly.
+
+"Really," the coroner murmured politely, "I should not have taken you
+to be so much. I don't wish to ask you anything likely to cause you
+pain, but does it not occur to you that your husband might have been
+concealing something? Is it not rather strange that he should leave
+you at midnight and take an hour and a half in reaching a house to
+which he might have walked in ten minutes?"
+
+"I don't think so," Mrs. Delahay said. "My husband was one of the most
+open of men. In fact, he was too fond of leaving his letters and
+private papers about. And as to the rest, he might have met a friend.
+He might have gone to one of his clubs."
+
+"If I may be allowed to interrupt a moment," Inspector Dallas said, "I
+may say that we have utterly failed to trace Mr. Delahay's movements
+from the time he left the Grand Hotel till he reached Fitzjohn Square.
+Not one of his friends appears to have seen him on the night in
+question."
+
+"That is rather unfortunate," the coroner murmured. "I am sorry to
+have troubled you so far. You may sit down now."
+
+With something which might have been a sigh of relief Mrs. Delahay
+resumed her seat close to the table. Then Inspector Dallas put
+forward a witness who gave the name of John Stevens. He looked like a
+broken-down professional man in his greasy, shabby frock-coat and dingy
+linen. His watery eye glanced nervously over the court. The red tinge
+on his cheeks spoke quite plainly of the cause of his downfall. He
+proceeded to give his evidence so incoherently that the coroner had to
+reprimand him sharply once or twice.
+
+"I can't hear half you say," that official said irritably. "I think
+you said your name was John Stevens. What can you tell us about this
+case? Did you know Mr. Delahay?"
+
+"I knew him quite well, sir," the witness said. "I have seen him
+scores of times when I have been watching in Fitzjohn Square."
+
+"What do you mean by watching there?"
+
+"Well, sir, you see, I am a private inquiry agent. I work for one of
+the large firms of detectives, getting up evidence and that kind of
+thing. For months past it has been my duty to keep my eye on a certain
+house in the Square, especially at night. In that way I have got to
+know most of the inhabitants by sight, and also I have got to know a
+good deal about their habits."
+
+"You are a professional spy, then?" the coroner asked.
+
+"Well, sir, if you like to put it like that," the witness said humbly.
+"On the night of the murder about a quarter past one, I was in the
+Square gardens watching through the railings at the corner of John
+Street. I could see perfectly well what was going on because there is
+a large electric arc light where John Street and the Square adjoin. As
+I said, it was just about a quarter past one, because I looked at my
+watch to see what the time was. It was nearly time for me to leave, as
+my instructions----"
+
+The witness broke off abruptly, and glanced about the room with the
+air of a man who has recognised an acquaintance whom he had not
+expected to see. His rambling attentions were recalled by the coroner
+in a few sharp words.
+
+"I am sure I beg your pardon. As I said, I was waiting there till my
+time was up, and I saw Mr. Delahay come round the corner. He stood
+there just a moment. As far as I could gather he seemed to be troubled
+about something. I was too far off to hear what he was saying, but it
+seemed to me----"
+
+"What are you talking about?" the coroner interrupted. "Do you mean to
+say that Mr. Delahay was talking to himself?"
+
+"Oh, dear no, sir; he was talking to his companion."
+
+"Companion! That is the first we have heard of that. Was the companion
+a man or a woman, might I ask?"
+
+"It was a lady, sir. She was a tall woman dressed in black. They stood
+opposite me for five or six minutes talking very earnestly together.
+Then Mr. Delahay turned away from the woman and went into the house.
+The woman seemed to hesitate a few moments, then she followed, and I
+saw her go into the house after Mr. Delahay. But she will be able to
+tell you all about it herself."
+
+"I don't understand you," the coroner said, with a puzzled frown. "How
+can the woman tell us all about it herself? You don't mean to say that
+she is in court?"
+
+The witness slowly turned and pointed a dingy forefinger in the
+direction of Maria Delahay.
+
+"That's the lady, sir," he said. "That's the lady that I saw with Mr.
+Delahay the night before last."
+
+"But that is absolutely impossible," the coroner cried. "Don't you
+know that that lady is Mr. Delahay's wife?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+ROPES OF SAND.
+
+
+Something like a thrill of real excitement ran through the spectators.
+The remark was made so quietly and in such a natural tone, that nobody
+dreamt of questioning the word of the witness. Then it went home to
+all that Stevens was making against Mrs. Delahay what amounted to a
+serious accusation. All eyes were turned upon her. She glanced in the
+direction of the witness in the same, dull, steady way which had
+characterised her from the first.
+
+"This is very remarkable," the coroner murmured. "Do you quite
+understand what you are saying?"
+
+"Why, of course, sir," Stevens went on, as if absolutely unconscious
+that his words were creating a sensation. "That is the lady whom I saw
+with Mr. Delahay that night. I daresay she will tell you herself when
+she comes to give evidence."
+
+"One moment, please," the coroner went on. "How long is it since you
+identified the lady opposite?"
+
+The witness looked about him as if he hardly understood the question.
+He was clearly puzzled by what had happened.
+
+"As a matter of fact," he said, "I did not see her till the last few
+moments. You see, sir, I took her for a witness like myself. I cannot
+say any more than that."
+
+The coroner murmured something to the effect that there must be a
+mistake here. Then he turned to the witness again.
+
+"This is a most important investigation," he said, "and I want you to
+be very careful. Will you look at the lady again and see if you have
+not made a mistake? Surely you were in court when she gave her
+evidence. You must have seen her then."
+
+"Indeed, I didn't, sir," the witness protested. "I did not come into
+court until my name was called outside."
+
+The coroner turned sharply to Mrs. Delahay and asked her to be good
+enough to stand up. She rose slowly and deliberately, and turned her
+head in the direction of Stevens. A ray of light fell upon her
+features; they were absolutely dull and expressionless, as if all the
+life had gone out of her; as if she failed utterly to comprehend what
+was going on around her. It was only natural that she should have
+dissented vigorously from Stevens' statement. She regarded him without
+even the suggestion of a challenge in her eyes. As a matter of fact,
+the man was making a serious charge against her--a charge of wilful
+perjury at the very least, and yet, so far as she was concerned,
+Stevens did not even appear to exist.
+
+"Well, what do you make of it?" the coroner asked.
+
+"Just as I told you before," the witness went on. "I saw that lady
+with Mr. Delahay at a quarter past one on the morning of the murder. I
+saw her enter the house in Fitzjohn Square."
+
+"Extraordinary!" the coroner exclaimed. "Mrs. Delahay has already
+sworn to the fact that she retired to bed at twelve o'clock, and that
+she did not miss her husband till late the next morning; and now you
+say that you saw her with the murdered man. In the face of Mrs.
+Delahay's evidence, are you prepared to repeat your first statement?"
+
+A stubborn look came over Stevens' face. His watery eyes became more
+clear and steadfast.
+
+"I have no object in telling a lie, sir," he said. "I came forward in
+what I considered to be the interests of justice, and at some loss to
+myself. I am prepared to stand up in any Court of Justice, and take my
+oath that Mrs. Delahay was with her husband at the time and place I
+have mentioned."
+
+The audience swayed again, for there was something exceedingly
+impressive in the speaker's words. All eyes were turned upon Mrs.
+Delahay, who seemed at length to gain some understanding of what was
+going on. There was no sign of guilt or confusion on her face. It was
+as calm and stony as ever.
+
+"The speaker is absolutely mistaken," she said. "He must have confused
+me with somebody else. From twelve o'clock at night till seven the
+next morning I was not out of my room."
+
+"On the face of what has happened, we cannot possibly go any further,"
+the coroner said. "After all it will be an easy matter to test the
+correctness of both witnesses. It is just possible that Stevens has
+made a mistake."
+
+Stevens shook his head doggedly. He felt quite certain that there was
+no mistake so far as he was concerned. Then there was a little awkward
+pause, followed by a whispered consultation between the coroner and
+Inspector Dallas.
+
+"The enquiry is adjourned for a week," the coroner announced. "There
+is nothing to be gained by any further investigation till the
+extraordinary point which has arisen has been settled."
+
+The disappointed audience filed out until only a few of the
+authorities from Scotland Yard remained. As Mrs. Delahay walked slowly
+towards the door, Inspector Dallas followed her.
+
+"You will excuse me, I am sure," he said, "but I should like to come
+back to your hotel with you and make a few inquiries. You see, it is
+absolutely necessary to disprove John Stevens' statements. Until we
+have done that, we can't carry our investigations any further. I hope
+you will be able to help us in this matter."
+
+"How can I help you?" the woman asked in the same dull, level voice.
+"I tell you that man was mistaken. I am still so dazed and stunned by
+my loss that I am quite incapable of following things clearly.
+Something seems to have gone wrong with my brain. But I will try and
+help you. It is very strange that that man should have made such an
+extraordinary mistake."
+
+"Very strange indeed," Dallas murmured. "Will you permit me to call
+you a cab? Now tell me, have you any relations? For instance, have you
+a sister who is very like you? In one of the most important
+investigations I ever undertook, I was utterly baffled for months
+owing to the fact of there being two twin brothers mixed up in the
+case. If you have a sister----"
+
+"So far as I know I have not a single female relative in the world,"
+Mrs. Delahay responded. "And as to the rest, you will find that my
+statement is absolutely true. I suppose you will believe the servants
+at the hotel?"
+
+The hotel was reached at length, and Mrs. Delahay excused herself on
+the ground that she was tired and utterly worn out. So far as Dallas
+was concerned he had no desire to detain her. As a matter of fact, he
+wanted to pursue his inquiries alone, and on the production of his
+card the resources of the establishment were placed at his disposal.
+Nothing seemed to escape his eye. No detail appeared to be too
+trivial. He received his reward at length through the lips of one of
+the chambermaids who had something to say. As was only natural, there
+was not a servant on the premises who had not heard all about the
+Fitzjohn Square tragedy, or who was not deeply interested in Mrs.
+Delahay.
+
+"It is your duty to look after the rooms on the same floor as Mrs.
+Delahay's bedroom?" he asked. "What time did you retire on the night
+of the murder?"
+
+"Not before two o'clock," the chambermaid replied. "We were unusually
+late that night as the house was full."
+
+"Quite so. I suppose when Mr. and Mrs. Delahay came in from the
+theatre they got the key of their bedroom from the office in the
+ordinary way? I suppose they had a dressing room and a bedroom?"
+
+The chambermaid admitted that such was the fact. When asked if she
+knew what time Mrs. Delahay had retired for the night, she shook her
+head. She "could not be quite sure."
+
+"You see, it was like this," she said. "I was rather interested in Mr.
+and Mrs. Delahay--they were such a distinguished looking couple. I was
+in the corridor when Mr. Delahay went out about twelve o'clock, and
+half an hour later I went up to Mrs. Delahay's bedroom to see if I
+could do anything for her. The key was in the door, which struck me as
+rather strange, because, as you know, in large hotels like this, it is
+the customary thing for people to lock their rooms. I knocked at the
+door and no reply came, so I went in. The bed and dressing room were
+both empty, and thinking, perhaps, that Mrs. Delahay had gone out as
+well as her husband, I turned the key in the door and took it down to
+the office."
+
+A thoughtful expression came over Inspector Dallas' face.
+
+"That was quite the proper thing to do," he said. "I suppose you don't
+know what time the key was fetched again from the office?"
+
+"Oh, that I cannot tell you. You see, I went to bed about two o'clock
+and I was up again at seven. When I took Mrs. Delahay up her cup of
+early tea she was in bed then."
+
+"Really! Did you notice anything strange about her?"
+
+"There was nothing to notice. She appeared to be very bright and
+cheerful, and chatted to me in the friendliest possible way. She did
+say something to the effect that she was a little uneasy about her
+husband, who had not yet returned, and that she must go and look for
+him. But beyond that I saw nothing that was in the least out of the
+common."
+
+"I think that will do," Dallas observed. "I won't detain you any
+longer. I. know how busy you are."
+
+Dallas went straight away downstairs and interviewed the clerk in the
+office. The latter's memory was a little vague on the subject of the
+coming and going of the various hotel guests. There were hundreds of
+them in the course of a week, and it was the habit of most of them to
+leave the key of their rooms in the office every time they went out.
+The speaker had no recollection of Mrs. Delahay calling for her key
+very late on the night of the tragedy. He debated the point
+thoughtfully for a moment, then his face lighted up.
+
+"I think I can help you," he exclaimed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+THE EXPRESS LETTER.
+
+
+"Take your time," Dallas said, encouragingly. "I don't want to hurry
+you. All I want are facts."
+
+"It is beginning to come to me now," the clerk said thoughtfully.
+"Yes, I remember it quite distinctly. You see, Madam Leona Farre, the
+great French actress, is staying in the house, and she did not come in
+till just two o'clock. After I had given her her key Mrs. Delahay came
+up and asked who the lady was. She wanted her key, too, which she told
+me was missing from the door of her room."
+
+"Oh, indeed," Dallas said softly. "She had just come in, I suppose?
+Had she taken off her things?"
+
+"No," the clerk said. "She had just come in from the street. I had to
+explain to her how it was that the key had found its way back into the
+office again."
+
+"She did not appear to be annoyed at that?"
+
+"Not in the least. Indeed, she seemed to be rather amused at her own
+carelessness. No, I saw nothing suspicious in her manner. I think that
+is all I can tell you."
+
+"Possibly," Dallas said. "But there is one other little matter in
+which you may be of assistance. I suppose you can recollect the night
+that Mr. Delahay left the hotel. Did he happen to ask for letters or
+anything of that kind? It would be quite the usual thing to do. Of
+course, it is a small point----"
+
+"There were no post letters," the clerk interrupted. "But just as Mr.
+Delahay was going out a messenger boy brought an express letter for
+him, which he read hastily, and then asked the hall porter to call him
+a cab. No, I can't say that the message disturbed him at all, but it
+seemed to hurry him up a bit just as a telegram might have done. That
+was the last I saw of him."
+
+On the whole Inspector Dallas was not disposed to be dissatisfied with
+his morning's work. He had discovered some important facts, and, at
+any rate, it had impressed the detective with the truth of John
+Stevens' evidence. As to the rest, it would not be a difficult matter
+to find out the name and number of the messenger boy who had brought
+the unfortunate Delahay that letter. There was nothing for it now but
+to take a cab and go off in the direction of the district office
+whence the messenger boy had come. As Dallas walked briskly down the
+steps of the hotel he met Lord Ravenspur coming up.
+
+"I am just going to see Mrs. Delahay," the latter said. "By the way,
+Inspector, that was remarkable evidence which the witness Stevens
+volunteered this morning. But, of course, he was mistaken. It is
+absolutely impossible that Mrs. Delahay could have been with her
+husband at the time he stated."
+
+"Well, I am not so sure of that, my lord," Dallas replied. "Really, I
+don't know what to make of it. At any rate, I have discovered an
+absolute fact: that for two hours, between twelve and two, Mrs.
+Delahay was not in the hotel. I have it on the independent testimony
+of two witnesses who corroborate one another down to the minutest
+detail. I don't know what to make of it."
+
+All the healthy colour left Ravenspur's face.
+
+"This is amazing," he said. "Yet I cannot believe that Mrs. Delahay
+has been deliberately deceiving us. I will go up and see what she has
+to say for herself. I suppose I am at liberty to tell her what you
+have just said to me?"
+
+"I don't know why not," Dallas said after a thoughtful pause. "You
+see, she is bound to know sooner or later. And I hope you will make
+her see the advisability of accounting for her movements. Nothing can
+be gained by trying to deceive us, to say nothing of the wrong
+impression which Mrs. Delahay is creating in the minds of other
+people. Really, if you come to think of it, she is standing in an
+exceedingly perilous position, my lord."
+
+Ravenspur was not destined to make any impression upon the widow of
+his unfortunate friend, for she refused to see him. One of the
+servants came down with a message to the effect that Mrs. Delahay
+could not see anybody. Even a letter hastily scribbled by Ravenspur
+failed to induce her to change her mind. With something like despair
+in his heart Ravenspur went off in the direction of his own house. For
+the rest of the afternoon he sat in the library, a prey to his own
+gloomy thoughts. Visitors came and went, but the same message was
+given to all of them--Lord Ravenspur was far from well. He could not
+see anybody this afternoon. It was nearly seven o'clock before Walter
+Lance came into the library.
+
+"I am sorry to disturb you," he said, "but I have something serious to
+say to you. I have been reading today's evidence in the Delahay case,
+and I was so interested in the matter that I went to Scotland Yard and
+had a chat with Inspector Dallas. It seems to me that Mrs. Delahay has
+placed herself in a very compromising position."
+
+"What do you mean by that?" Ravenspur demanded.
+
+"Surely, my dear uncle, the thing is plain enough. Whatever your
+opinion of Mrs. Delahay may be you cannot get away from the fact that
+she was deliberately lying when she gave her evidence this morning.
+She swore that on the night of the murder she wasn't out of her
+bedroom after twelve o'clock, and we know now that she was away from
+the hotel for over two hours. You know it, too, because Dallas told
+you. You will forgive my plain speaking, sir, but I think you could
+throw some light on this painful tragedy. Believe me, I should not
+dare to say so much if----"
+
+"You are presumptuous," Ravenspur said angrily. "Do you dare to
+insinuate that a man in my position----"
+
+"I am not insinuating anything," Walter urged. "But I have a feeling
+we are in some way connected with this tragedy. I have a strange
+instinct that there is some close connection between the death of Mr.
+Delahay and that mysterious murderous attack upon you in your studio.
+Oh, I know that commonsense is all against my theory, but I am going
+to tell you something which will astonish you. After I saw you to bed
+the other night I searched the studio for some way whereby an
+assailant could have entered the room--I mean some secret door known
+only to yourself----"
+
+"You can disabuse your mind of that idea," Ravenspur said, with the
+ghost of a smile. "I give you my word that there is nothing of the
+sort. But go on with your story."
+
+"Well, I couldn't find any means of entrance and exit except by the
+door, and then it occurred to me that I might possibly light upon a
+clue. Finally I found this lying on the floor, and I should like you
+to read it. You may find it interesting."
+
+With these words Walter took from his pocket the dingy yellow
+handbill, and laid it open on the table so that Ravenspur might read.
+The latter glanced at the printed words, and then turned to Walter
+with a questioning eye.
+
+"What does it all mean?" he asked. "It conveys nothing whatever to me,
+and, even if it did, I am the last man in the world to patronise
+entertainments of that kind."
+
+"You never heard of Valdo before, then?" Walter asked.
+
+"Not I, my dear boy. Who is the fellow?"
+
+"He is a kind of flying man. He is an individual with extraordinarily
+developed arms and muscles. He can move those arms almost as quickly
+as a fly does in its flight; with the aid of specially prepared wings
+he can flutter about a stage like a bird. I daresay there is some
+secret behind it all, but still the performance is very graceful and
+attractive, though, as yet, the man tells me his flight is limited to
+some thirty feet."
+
+"He tells you!" Ravenspur exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that you have
+actually paid a visit to this theatre?"
+
+"Certainly I have, sir. You see, I regarded this bill as a kind of
+clue. I knew that you could not possibly have brought it into the
+house, nor were any of your friends likely to do so. Therefore I came
+to the not illogical conclusion the other night that your assailant
+must have dropped it. The man who got into the studio must have been
+an extraordinary climber or something exceedingly clever in the way of
+an acrobat. In fact, just the sort of fellow who would be connected
+with music halls and circuses and places of that kind. That is why I
+went down to the Imperial Palace Theatre together with a journalist
+friend of mine who takes an interest in such matters. The only item of
+the entertainment worth watching was this man Valdo, and, of course,
+up to a certain point I did not identify him with the outrage upon
+yourself."
+
+"Why should you do so now?" Ravenspur asked. "I told you that I have
+never seen or heard of the man, nor does he answer to any acquaintance
+of mine. Why, then, should you go out of your way to suggest that he
+had even been here?"
+
+"I am coming to that," Walter said quietly. "I was so interested in
+the performance that I went round to Valdo's dressing-room afterwards,
+and had a long chat with him. Just before I came away a woman looked
+into the room, and asked the performer if he was ready, or something
+of that kind. She did not notice me; indeed, she did not even look in
+my direction. It was only just for a moment that I caught a glimpse of
+her face. It was only by a great effort that I concealed my feelings.
+And when I tell you that the woman I am speaking about was Mrs.
+Delahay----"
+
+"Impossible!" Ravenspur cried in great agitation. "The thing is
+absolutely incredible. I cannot believe it."
+
+"Nevertheless, I am stating nothing but the truth," Walter said. "As
+sure as I am standing here I saw Mrs. Delahay. And now you know why I
+am sure that there is something more behind this than has yet come to
+light."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+A SPEAKING LIKENESS.
+
+
+It was some little time before Lord Ravenspur replied. For a moment or
+two he seemed to be bereft of the gift of speech.
+
+"It sounds almost incredible," he managed to stammer at length. "You
+are absolutely certain you are not mistaken?"
+
+"No, I am not mistaken. Mrs. Delahay's face is far too striking a one
+to be taken for that of anybody else. Of course, I am not asking you
+to give me any information. I am not seeking to pry into your secrets;
+but this mystery maddens me. The most extraordinary part of the whole
+affair is this--for three years on and off I have known Mrs. Delahay
+intimately. I saw a great deal of her in Florence, also in Paris last
+year. And she has always given me the impression of being absolutely
+straightforward and single minded. And now, for some reason or
+another, she has taken it into her head to tell deliberate lies which
+appear to have no point or meaning. If she had only said that she went
+to call upon a friend after her husband had gone out, no further
+question would have been asked. Of course, I had not forgotten the
+evidence of the man Stevens. I must confess I should like to see him
+and ask him a few pointed questions. But apart from all that, you must
+see the necessity of getting Mrs. Delahay to tell the truth. It is
+just possible that she is shielding somebody. It is just possible that
+the whole thing is capable of explanation. But of that you are the
+best judge."
+
+"It is a miserable business altogether," Ravenspur groaned. "I am
+obliged to you for the straightforward way in which you have told me
+everything, and I will do my best with Maria Delahay. She refused to
+see me this morning, but I will go round after dinner and make another
+attempt to get an interview."
+
+It was somewhat later in the evening that Walter looked up his friend
+Venables again. As he expected, he found the journalist to be greatly
+interested in the Delahay case. Walter had debated the matter over in
+his mind. He could see no harm in telling Venables what he had
+discovered.
+
+"It is certainly a curious case," the latter remarked. "And
+professional interests apart, I should like to get to the bottom of
+this mystery. But I see you have some suggestion to make in connection
+with it. What is your idea?"
+
+"Well, I have been thinking it out as I came along," Walter explained;
+"and it seems to me that we might get a good deal out of the witness
+John Stevens. He is the sort of man who would do anything for money,
+and a sovereign or two ought to loosen his tongue. I don't want to say
+anything unkind about Louis Delahay, because he was a great friend of
+ours; and, so far as I know, his past is a clean and honourable one.
+But then you never can tell. What is a man like that doing to make an
+enemy, who is prepared to run the risk of being hanged for killing
+him? And why does he want to go round to his studio at such an hour in
+the morning?"
+
+"I thought of all that," Venables said grimly. "Depend upon it, your
+unfortunate friend had some secret chapters in his life of which the
+world will probably never know anything. But what has all this got to
+do with that fellow Stevens?"
+
+"I was just coming to that point. If I had been the coroner I should
+have asked Stevens a great many more questions this morning. As it
+was, the authorities seemed content to let him go after he had given
+evidence to the effect that he had seen Mrs. Delahay with her husband.
+He told the court that he had been prowling and spying about Fitzjohn
+Square for some months, and he gave a pretty plain hint to the effect
+that he could tell a story or two about some of the inhabitants there.
+Now, for six months or more before Delahay went to Florence to be
+married, he lived a bachelor life at this house; and all this time
+Stevens was prowling about the neighbourhood after dark. It is not a
+very pleasant thing to have to do, but I should like to talk the
+matter over with Stevens and see if he can give us any information as
+regards Delahay. If you will telephone to Scotland Yard and get them
+to give you Stevens' address, we will go round to his rooms and
+interview him at once."
+
+It was no difficult matter to get the address in question, and
+presently the two friends reached the shabby house in the dingy street
+where Stevens lived. An exceedingly dirty child informed the visitors
+that Mr. Stevens was out at present, but that he always left his
+whereabouts behind him in case he might be required professionally. At
+the present moment, the precocious child informed the strangers, Mr.
+Stevens could be found at the Imperial Palace Theatre in Vauxhall
+Bridge Road.
+
+"That is a bit of a coincidence," Venables remarked. "However, we
+can't do better than go down to the theatre."
+
+There was some little trouble in finding Stevens, and the performance
+was nearly at an end before he was pointed out to Walter by one of the
+attendants. He appeared to be none too sober, judging by his flushed
+face and somewhat unsteady gait; though, since the morning, his
+wardrobe had undergone a decided change for the better. The greasy,
+seedy frock-coat had vanished. Also the dilapidated silk hat. In fact
+the man looked quite prosperous.
+
+"I would suggest that we don't speak to him in here," Venables said.
+"Let us follow him out into the road."
+
+Walter fell in at once with the idea. In the road Stevens paused as if
+waiting for somebody, and presently from the stage door there appeared
+the slim, graceful figure of Valdo. For some moments the two men stood
+in earnest conversation together, and from their attitude it was
+plainly evident that they were in hot dispute upon some point. The
+discussion lasted some little time. Then with a shrug of his
+shoulders, Valdo put his hand in his pocket and passed a coin or two
+over to his companion. Stevens was understood to say something to the
+effect that that would suffice for the present. Then he lounged off
+down the road and paused presently before a public-house which
+glittered invitingly opposite.
+
+"Catch him before he goes in there," Venables whispered hurriedly. "If
+the fellow has any more to drink he will be perfectly useless to us
+for the rest of the evening."
+
+Stevens turned suspiciously as Walter spoke to him.
+
+"I think your name is Stevens," the latter said. "My friend here is a
+journalist and is greatly interested in the Fitzjohn Square mystery.
+We have been reading your evidence of this morning, and have come to
+the conclusion that you may be able to afford us some useful
+information. If you will answer a few questions we will make it worth
+your while."
+
+"To the extent of a couple of sovereigns," Venables put in.
+
+"Then I am your man," Stevens exclaimed with alacrity. "Perhaps you
+wouldn't mind coming round as far as my rooms. I have got a pretty
+poor memory for things, so I always jot everything down in my diary. I
+put everything down pretty well, because you never know what
+information is likely to be useful. I once made fifty pounds out of
+the simple fact that I saw a footman reading some postcards he was
+posting. Since then I have neglected no trifles."
+
+"What we want," Walter explained, "is all you can tell us about Mr.
+Louis Delahay. You know him very well by sight, and you must be
+acquainted with some of his habits."
+
+Stevens laughed knowingly, and nodded his head.
+
+"I could open your eyes about a few of them in that neighbourhood," he
+said. "I haven't been loafing about Fitzjohn Square all these months
+for nothing. If I were a blackmailer, which I am not, I could live on
+the fat of the land. That is too dangerous a game to play, and I
+prefer to get along as I am."
+
+The man was evidently in a condition when he was past concealing
+anything. He chattered away glibly until his rooms were reached. Then
+with a flourish he opened the door and invited his visitors to enter.
+He apologised for the fact that he had nothing whereon to entertain
+the strangers, which apology was duly accepted. It was, perhaps, on
+the whole, a fortunate thing that Stevens' cellar was empty. He
+ushered his companions into a grimy room, stuffy from want of air, and
+reeking with the odour of stale tobacco smoke.
+
+"You will excuse me for a moment," he said politely. "I will go into
+my bedroom and get my diary. I suppose pretty well all you want to
+know has happened quite lately."
+
+"It is the last six months with which we are chiefly concerned,"
+Walter explained. "Before that does not matter."
+
+Stevens turned away and closed the door behind him. He was gone some
+little time, so that his visitors had ample opportunity to take stock
+of their surroundings. There was nothing in the place of any value
+except a small circular picture in a handsome frame, depicting a
+beautiful face, which was evidently the work of some artist of repute.
+The painting was so glaringly out of place that it immediately
+attracted Venables' attention.
+
+"How did that get here?" he asked.
+
+"My word, you may well ask that," Walter cried in surprise. "Here is
+another amazing discovery! You remember my uncle being robbed of some
+pictures a few years ago, one of which he declared was the best thing
+he had ever done?"
+
+"You don't mean to say," Venables exclaimed, "that, that----"
+
+"Indeed, I do," Walter said under his breath. "I declare to you that
+the painting hanging up there is the one which my uncle always
+considered his masterpiece."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+A STRIKING LIKENESS.
+
+
+Venables regarded the painting with deep interest. All his
+journalistic instincts were now aroused. It appeared to him that he
+was on the eve of tapping a perfect gold mine of sensational "copy."
+
+"Now are you quite sure you are not making a mistake?" he asked. "You
+have not been misled by some chance likeness, because this is rather
+an important matter for me. My people expect smartness, but they have
+a rooted objection to mistakes."
+
+"I tell you there is no mistake here," Walter Lance said definitely.
+"I am prepared to swear that that portrait was painted by my uncle. Of
+course, you remember the sensation there was at the time when the
+pictures were stolen. They vanished from the studio in the most
+mysterious fashion. Two of them were of comparative unimportance, but
+yonder work my uncle reckons to be the best thing he has ever done.
+And I quite agree with him."
+
+"A portrait, I suppose?" Venables asked.
+
+"Well, my uncle always denies it. He says the face is more or less a
+fancy one. And while he is prepared to admit that it is coloured by
+recollection, he says it is not intended for anybody in particular.
+But I can see a likeness there."
+
+"Of course you can, and a very strong one, too," Venables exclaimed.
+"Do you mean to tell me that your uncle cannot see that that picture
+is Miss Vera Rayne?"
+
+"That is the point I have put to him more than once. He says he can't
+see it at all. And there are others who share the same opinion. On the
+other hand, there are certain friends of ours who take the same view
+of it as I do myself."
+
+"And they are right," Venables said vigorously. "My word, we appear to
+be only on the fringe of this mystery! It occurs to me that the thief
+who stole that picture did not steal it for the mere sake of gain, but
+merely because it is _what_ it is. No doubt the other two works were
+merely stolen as a blind. I don't wish to appear curious, my dear
+fellow, but what relation is Miss Rayne to Lord Ravenspur or
+yourself?"
+
+"Ah, that I can't tell you," Walter replied. "Strange as it may seem,
+my uncle has always refused to say anything about Miss Rayne's
+antecedents. All I know is that she is well bred, exceedingly
+beautiful, and perfect in every way."
+
+"Oh, of course," Venables said hastily. "But here is Stevens back
+again. It wouldn't be a bad plan to ask him point blank where that
+picture comes from."
+
+Walter nodded his approval as Stevens came back into the room with a
+notebook in his hand. He started uneasily as Venables literally fired
+the question at him. But there was no time for the man to prevaricate.
+
+"It doesn't belong to me," he said. "As a matter of fact, it is the
+property of a man who used to lodge with me some time ago."
+
+"Well, it is a very fine piece of work," Venables said, in a
+matter-of-fact voice. "I suppose your friend is a poor man; otherwise
+he would not live in a place like this. Do you think he would like to
+sell the picture?"
+
+Stevens replied, with obvious confusion, that he could not say. His
+friend was not an Englishman, and where he was to be found at that
+moment Stevens could not say. There appeared to be nothing more for it
+but to change the subject. Then, as he stood looking at the painted
+face, a sudden inspiration come to Walter. He wondered why he had not
+thought of it before. His mind went swiftly back to the moment in the
+studio when Lord Ravenspur had appeared so disturbed over the
+unexpected finding of the photograph by one of his guests. Here was
+the photo idealised. Could there be any connection between the thief
+of the picture and Lord Ravenspur's midnight guest?
+
+"Perhaps I can stimulate your memory," he said. "Isn't your friend an
+Italian? Hasn't he got something to do with the variety stage? Come,
+you can answer my question; surely it is an easy one. Isn't your
+friend in London at the present moment?"
+
+Stevens stammered and hesitated. There was something like fear in his
+eyes as he glanced furtively at the questioner. Lance felt quite sure
+that he was on the right track now.
+
+"Now, look here," he said. "We have come on important business, and if
+you refuse to help us, we may find some other way of inducing you to
+tell the truth. On the other hand, there need be no unpleasantness,
+and there is no reason why you shouldn't put a five-pound note in your
+pocket. Now isn't that picture the property of a man named Valdo who
+is at present under engagement at the Imperial Palace Theatre? Now,
+yes or no."
+
+"I don't know how you found it out," Stevens said, wriggling about
+uncomfortably. "But it is true enough. Valdo was living with me about
+three years ago. He came back one night with the picture in his
+possession."
+
+"Not in a frame, I suppose?" Lance asked.
+
+"He brought it rolled up. The frame was put upon it a day or two later
+by Silva himself."
+
+"Silva!" Venables exclaimed. "I thought his name was Valdo."
+
+"That is his stage name," Stevens explained. "You see, Silva had not
+come to England very long. He was very poor then, and I understood
+that he was looking for some Englishman, who had promised him
+employment whenever he crossed the Channel."
+
+"Was the Englishman ever found?" Lance asked.
+
+"That I can't tell you," Stevens went on. "Silva is very close about
+his own affairs, and I believe that he belonged to some secret
+society. He told me the picture had been painted for him by a clever
+compatriot of his, who was trying to make a name for himself. Of
+course, it was nothing to me, and I asked no questions about it. When
+Silva went away to fulfil an engagement up in the North, he asked me
+to take care of the portrait, and it has been hanging on the wall
+opposite ever since. I hope there is nothing wrong about it."
+
+"Indeed there is," Lance said significantly. "Now, if you would like
+to help us, we will make it worth your while. If you don't, why, it is
+more than possible that you may find yourself in an awkward position.
+I don't mind telling you that that portrait was painted by Lord
+Ravenspur, and that it was stolen one night from his studio some three
+years ago."
+
+Stevens gave a sudden start.
+
+"I recollect it," he cried; "I recollect it perfectly. I remember that
+there was a great outcry at the time, and that a large reward was
+offered for the recovery of the pictures. Lord, if I had only known.
+And to think that all this time----"
+
+"That reward would have been yours," Venables smiled grimly. "You
+would not have allowed your friendship for this man Silva----"
+
+"Friendship!" Stevens said contemptuously. "What is friendship where
+money is concerned? And, after all, Silva was no real pal of mine.
+Precious little use he was to me."
+
+"Oh, you'll find us useful enough if you play your cards correctly,"
+Venables said. "We happen to know that you are on good terms with this
+man Valdo, or Silva, whatever you call him. In fact, we know that he
+gave you money tonight. You are quite astute enough to see how much
+better it will pay you to be on our side. Therefore, you will see the
+advantage of saying nothing to this Italian about our visit here
+tonight. Here is a five-pound note to go on with, and if I want you
+again, as is exceedingly probable, I will write to you and tell you
+where to meet me. I don't think we need detain you any more at
+present."
+
+"Then you don't want to know anything about Fitzjohn Square?" Stevens
+asked. "I can tell you a thing or two."
+
+"I think that will keep for the present," said Lance. "Good-night, and
+remember that silence is your policy."
+
+Stevens grinned and nodded as he tucked the five-pound note into his
+waistcoat pocket. His recent visitors went off together in the
+direction of Venables' rooms.
+
+"That was a brilliant inspiration of yours," the latter said,
+presently. "Now, what on earth put it into your head to ask if that
+man Valdo had any connection with the stolen pictures? To my mind,
+your question was almost an inspiration."
+
+"Well, hardly that," Lance proceeded to explain. "But, first of all,
+let me tell you the events which led up to our discovery tonight. I
+think you ought to know. I am quite sure that the secret is safe in
+your hands. Now listen, carefully."
+
+Venables listened carefully enough to Walter's extraordinary story of
+the strange photograph, and of the mysterious attack on Lord Ravenspur
+in his studio, and the subsequent discovery of the yellow handbill.
+In the light of these disclosures everything was perfectly plain to a
+mind so astute as that of Venables. He shook his head gravely.
+
+"This looks like a vendetta," he said. "You may depend upon it that
+Miss Vera Rayne is the unconscious cause of all the mischief. Of
+course, I am treading on delicate ground now, but I suppose it is just
+possible that Miss Rayne may be Lord Ravenspur's daughter. We know
+that Ravenspur used to spend a great part of his time in Corsica, and
+everybody is aware of the fact that love-making out there is a
+dangerous business. It looks very much to me as if this man Valdo was
+working out a plan of revenge, either on his own behalf, or on behalf
+of some noble family, hailing from that picturesque corner of Europe.
+My theory is further strengthened by the mysterious way in which these
+things have come about. See how anxious your uncle is to keep
+everything out of the hands of the police. I feel quite sure now that
+the death of Louis Delahay is all part of the same drama. It wouldn't
+be a bad plan to mention Luigi Silva's name to your uncle, and ask him
+if he has ever heard of the man before."
+
+"That is a good idea," Walter exclaimed. "I'll ask my uncle the
+question before I go to bed tonight."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+RETROSPECTION.
+
+
+Most of the lights in the houses in Park Lane were out when Walter
+reached his uncle's residence. But as he entered the hall he could see
+that the studio was still ablaze. The door was closed, but a thin
+shaft of light penetrated from beneath. As Walter tried the door he
+found to his surprise that it was locked. With some feeling of
+apprehension he called to his uncle, and a moment later Ravenspur
+turned the key. His face was pale. There was in his eyes a look which
+spoke of some vague fear.
+
+"I hope I am not disturbing you," Walter said.
+
+"My dear boy, I am only too pleased to have a companion," Ravenspur
+said eagerly. "Upon my word, my nerves are so much shaken by these
+terrible happenings that I am almost afraid to be alone. Sit down and
+have a cigarette."
+
+Walter took a cigarette from the silver box on a little table, nor did
+he fail to note the presence of a stand of spirits, which was a thing
+in which his uncle rarely, or never, indulged.
+
+"I really needed a stimulant tonight," Ravenspur said, half
+apologetically. "Where have you been all the evening?"
+
+"I have been out making discoveries," Walter said, as he threw himself
+down into a comfortable armchair, "and one of my discoveries has been
+really remarkable. To be perfectly candid, Venables and myself have
+been doing a little private detective business together. Venables was
+by no means satisfied that that fellow Stevens had told all he knew at
+the inquest on poor Delahay, so we hunted Mr. Stevens up, and finally
+ran him to earth in his dingy lodgings."
+
+"And did he give you any valuable information?" Ravenspur asked
+eagerly. "Was it worth your while?"
+
+"Indeed, it was, as you will see for yourself, sir. As soon as ever we
+got into the room I was struck by a picture there. One does not
+usually find great works of art in a bed-sitting room at five
+shillings a week. And when you see a picture like that, worth a couple
+of thousand pounds at least, it naturally arouses your curiosity. And
+when, on the top of that, the picture is perfectly familiar to you,
+why, my dear uncle----"
+
+"You mean you had seen the picture before? Where?"
+
+"In this very studio; you painted it here, sir. It is one of the three
+pictures which were stolen from you some time ago. Oh, you need not
+shake your head, uncle. I assure you that I have not made the
+slightest mistake. I leave you to guess which of the three pictures it
+was that I saw in that dreary bed-sitting room."
+
+"I think I can tell you," Ravenspur groaned. "It was the fancy
+portrait. Some instinct tells me so."
+
+"You are quite right, sir," Walter went on. "It was the portrait,
+surely enough. But it did not belong to Stevens, as you will probably
+have guessed by this time. It had been left in his care by an Italian
+friend, who gave a very plausible reason for being in possession of so
+valuable a work. I understand that this Italian's name was Luigi
+Silva. Have you heard of him?"
+
+Lord Ravenspur rose from his chair, and walked agitatedly up and down
+the studio. It was some little time before he spoke, and then his
+words came slowly and painfully.
+
+"I see you know more than I had expected," he said. "For instance, you
+have formed the conclusion that this Luigi Silva stole that picture.
+In fact, that he came here on purpose to get possession of it, and
+that he took two other canvases at the same time to prevent us finding
+out his real motive. Till tonight I had not the remotest idea why
+this Luigi Silva wanted that portrait, because the loss of the other
+pictures utterly deceived me, as it was intended to do. Now I know
+better."
+
+"But you did not answer my question, sir," Lance suggested.
+
+"Oh, yes; you wanted to know if I was personally acquainted with this
+man. As a matter of fact, I am not, though I have heard far too much
+about him for my peace of mind. But tell me, how did you manage to
+ascertain the fellow's proper name?"
+
+"That, of course, we got from Stevens," Walter explained. "Silva is in
+England ostensibly as a music hall artist; in other words, he is
+Valdo, the flying man that I told you about a little time ago. But
+don't you think we are getting rather from the point, uncle? I want to
+know the history of this man."
+
+Once more Ravenspur commenced his walk up and down the room. He seemed
+to be hovering between two minds.
+
+"Perhaps it would be wiser if I were to tell you everything," he said.
+"I did not intend to do so, but to a certain extent you have forced my
+hand, and it would be much more prudent for you to know where you
+stand. You asked me just now what I knew of this man Silva. Eighteen
+years ago he was in the employ of a great friend of mine, Count Boris
+Flavio. My unfortunate friend is forgotten now, but at the time of
+which I am speaking he enjoyed almost a European reputation. To begin
+with, he was an exceedingly rich man. He had one of the most beautiful
+places on the Continent, situated not far from Florence. Had he been
+poor, Flavio would have shone in any line he chose to take up. He was
+a fine artist, a notable sculptor, and one or two of his books
+attracted great attention. In addition to this, he had few rivals as
+an all-round sportsman. His conversation was brilliant, his appearance
+and manners left nothing to be desired. Out of the scores of notable
+men I have met in my time, there is not one of them to whom I was so
+deeply attached as I was to Boris Flavio. His views, his sympathies,
+his extraordinary grasp of character all appealed strongly to me. So
+far as I know, he had no secrets from me, and it came almost as a
+shock one day when I had a letter from him saying that he was about to
+be married. Naturally one expected such a man to make a brilliant
+match, but, on the contrary, Flavio chose a wife from people of whom
+one had hardly heard. On the score of family, Carlotta Descarti had
+nothing with which to reproach herself. And here comes in the strange
+part of the affair. The Descartis and the Flavios had estates which
+touched one another, and between the two families there had been a
+feud for centuries. It was a veritable Montague and Capulet business,
+and I daresay it was this factor in the case that so strongly appealed
+to my friend Flavio. Mind you, I did not learn these facts till long
+after, and it so happened that circumstances prevented my attending
+Flavio's wedding, and I never saw his wife. Two years later I received
+an urgent and mysterious message from Flavio to go and see him
+secretly, and meet him in the grounds of his estate without letting a
+soul know that I was there. . . . I never saw a man so changed as my
+unhappy friend. It appeared that he had married a woman who was a
+perfect fiend. She had made more than one attempt upon his life, and
+he felt certain that the end was not far off. When I asked him why he
+tolerated such a state of things, he told me it was for the sake of
+his little girl, to whom he was passionately attached. And then he
+bound me to an extraordinary promise. Mind you, I would not have made
+that rash promise to any other friend, but such was the charm and
+magnetism of the man that I never even hesitated. And this is what I
+had to do. If anything happened to my friend, if he died mysteriously,
+I was to go to Italy at once, and, by fair means or foul, get the
+child away from the baneful influence of her mother. Oh, you may look
+at me with astonishment, Walter, but stranger things happen every day.
+
+"I went away fully intending to keep my promise if occasion arose, and
+I was not surprised to hear a few months later that poor Flavio had
+been found dead in his room. It was proved that he had been poisoned,
+and suspicion immediately fell upon his wife. On and off, the case
+lasted three or four years, and caused a tremendous sensation
+throughout Europe. Beyond all question the wife was guilty enough, but
+she managed to prove an extraordinary _alibi_, which so puzzled the
+jury that they disagreed no fewer than five times. After that the
+authorities recognised the futility of further proceedings, and the
+countess was released. What became of her I don't know, for she
+disappeared, and, as far as I can tell, has never been seen from that
+day to this. But most assuredly she would have been convicted had it
+not been for the devotion of a servant of hers whom she had brought
+from her old home with her. This servant's name was Luigi Silva. It
+was he who saved his mistress. I am firmly convinced it was he who
+engineered that marvellous _alibi_, and coached his witnesses so
+cleverly that there was no flaw in their evidence. I was not present
+at any of the trials, because I could not manage to get away, but I
+read enough to convince me that this Luigi Silva had talents and
+courage far above the common."
+
+"And the child?" Walter asked, with pardonable curiosity.
+
+"Oh, I had almost forgotten the main part of my story," Ravenspur
+proceeded. "The more I read of that case, the more convinced I was
+that I should be doing right in carrying out my promise to my dead
+friend. It was not a difficult matter. It only meant a journey to
+Italy and back, and the little one was in my safe custody. I leave you
+to guess what that child is called now."
+
+"Vera Rayne, of course," Walter said.
+
+"Quite so. From that day to this she has been with me always. But,
+mind you, I was not blind to the risk I was taking. If ever the truth
+came out, my life was not worth much. I knew that I should be tracked
+and followed, and finally lose my life, even if the search took twenty
+years. But, gradually, as the time wore on, I became easy in my mind.
+I had taken the utmost precautions to blind my trail, and the only
+accomplice I had was my old nurse, who has been dead for some years.
+Besides, Vera was growing up, and it seemed to me impossible to
+identify her with the baby not quite two years old. She is not in the
+least like her father, either, and that is why I made a mistake. I had
+quite forgotten that she might be very like her mother, and she I have
+never seen."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+DALLAS MAKES A DISCOVERY.
+
+
+"The danger would certainly lie there," Walter said thoughtfully.
+
+"My dear boy, that is just where the danger comes in," Ravenspur
+replied. "I haven't the remotest idea whether Vera is like or unlike
+her mother, but I fear that she must be, otherwise that man Silva
+would never have got on my track, as I have felt quite sure lately
+that he has done. Doubtless in some of his wanderings he has seen the
+girl, he has recognised the likeness, and made up his mind that he has
+found the object of his search at last. You see, he has only to make a
+few inquiries amongst the servants, who would tell him that Vera is my
+ward, and that, as to the rest, she is more or less of a beautiful
+mystery. One can understand now why he should come to my studio and
+steal that portrait."
+
+"I think I can see a better theory than that," Walter said. "Wasn't
+the portrait exhibited before it came back to the studio again? I seem
+to remember something of the kind."
+
+"Of course it was," Ravenspur exclaimed. "I had quite forgotten that.
+Silva must have got his inspiration from the picture. I suppose that
+is why he made that murderous attack upon Sir James Seton the other
+night, taking him, of course, for me. But that is not the first
+warning I have had of the impending danger, and I am afraid it won't
+be the last."
+
+Walter listened to this desponding view with impatience.
+
+"But, surely, you are not going to take it like this, sir?" he
+expostulated. "By greatest good fortune we have discovered who your
+mysterious foe is. I think it has been a wonderful slice of luck, and
+we ought to take advantage of it. Surely you couldn't do any less than
+place the matter in the hands of the police, telling them all that has
+happened. At any rate, you can do nothing else. They can drive this
+man Silva out of the country. If I may be allowed a suggestion, you
+will let Inspector Dallas know without delay. If you don't care to
+tell him yourself, let me broach the matter. Indeed, it seems my
+imperative duty to do so. If you fell by the hand of this man now I
+should feel morally responsible for your death. And, besides, if
+anything happens to you, what are we going to do about Vera? She is
+not yet of age. She might at any moment be claimed by her mother, who
+you say is a perfect fiend. And, besides, though this is a minor
+matter, I am deeply attached to Vera myself----"
+
+"Oh, I know, I know," Ravenspur groaned. "The thing is hedged round
+with troubles and difficulties. You know why I was against your
+marriage with Vera, and how greatly distressed I was when I found
+everything out. If there had been nothing in the way, nobody would
+have been more delighted at a match like that than myself. But you see
+the danger, though you little know how deep and far-reaching those
+Corsican vengeances are. How do I know that if you marry Vera you
+would not be marked down for the same fate as myself?"
+
+"I am prepared to risk that," Walter said grimly. "Still, at the
+present moment, we have far more important things to talk about. And
+Vera must know nothing of this."
+
+"My dear boy, of course not. I should never dream of telling her. But
+sooner or later she must discover everything for herself, I am afraid.
+I have been thinking over what you said just now, and perhaps it would
+be as well to let the police know."
+
+"You will do it at once?" asked Walter eagerly.
+
+"Well, no, I don't propose to do it at all. You have been so clever
+and cool-headed in this matter that I have decided to leave everything
+to you. The whole problem is so complicated that I am utterly unable
+to grasp it. I can see no connection between the two, but I am
+perfectly certain that the death of poor Delahay is all part of the
+coil."
+
+"I feel that, too," Walter said. "But we need not concern ourselves
+about that at present. By the way, have you seen anything of Mrs.
+Delahay today?"
+
+"She won't see me," Ravenspur replied. "She obstinately refuses to see
+anybody. She remains wilfully blind to the fact that she is in a
+serious position. You see, she declared in her evidence in chief that
+she had not been outside the hotel on the night of the murder, and yet
+on the testimony of three independent witnesses we have it that she
+was away upwards of three hours. Of course, that man Stevens is a very
+suspicious character, but he could have nothing to gain by swearing
+that he saw Mrs. Delahay with her husband very early in the morning in
+Fitzjohn Square. Moreover, the man's evidence was not in the least
+shaken. What to make of it I don't know. I wish you would try and see
+her. You know her far better than I do, because you were a deal in
+Italy before Delahay's marriage, and I think she likes you. Of course,
+she might have some strong reasons for leaving the hotel and for
+keeping the thing a secret, and she may be utterly and entirely
+innocent. But, really she ought to tell her best friends what is the
+meaning of this mystery."
+
+Walter glanced at his watch. It still wanted some minutes to eleven
+o'clock, and it was no far cry to the Grand Hotel. A hansom took him
+there in ten minutes. Mrs. Delahay had not yet retired for the night,
+and Walter sent up his card, with a few urgent words pencilled on it.
+A maid came down presently with the information that Mrs. Delahay
+would see him for a moment.
+
+She came into her sitting-room perfectly calm and self-possessed,
+though the deadly whiteness of her face and the scintillating of her
+eyes told of the torture that was going on within.
+
+"I wish you would let me help you," Walter said as they shook hands.
+"I wish you would be advised by me. My uncle tells me that you refused
+to see him altogether."
+
+"I was bound to," Mrs. Delahay said in a low voice. "Oh, I know
+exactly what you want. I am the victim of a set of extraordinary
+circumstances. My innocent lie may get me into serious trouble. I am
+not blind to that knowledge, but at the same time I cannot speak. I
+must allow people to think the worst. But I swear to you if it is the
+last word I ever utter, that I was not with my husband. I was not the
+woman the witness identified as the person he had seen with Louis
+Delahay in Fitzjohn Square that terrible morning."
+
+The words were quietly, almost coldly, uttered, but Walter believed
+them as he would perhaps have refused to believe a passionate outburst
+on the speaker's part.
+
+"But surely," he argued, "you can give some account of your movements.
+You can say why you went out and what for?"
+
+"I cannot," Maria Delahay went on in the same even tones. "There are
+the most pressing reasons why I should keep silent. My dear Mr. Lance,
+I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for all your sympathy and
+kindness, but nothing can move me from my determination. After all
+said and done, the police can prove nothing against me. For the rest
+of my life I shall be a person to be shunned and avoided, but I shall
+know how to bear my punishment uncomplainingly. And in conclusion, I
+am quite convinced of this--if I told you everything, you would say
+that I was perfectly justified in the course I am taking. Further
+argument is useless."
+
+Walter saw the futility of it, too. He saw in the woman's averted head
+and outstretched hand, the sign that he was no longer needed, and that
+the interview was at an end. By no means satisfied he made his way
+down to the vestibule intent upon seeing Inspector Dallas without
+further delay. He was not surprised to find the object of his search
+engaged in discussion with the clerk.
+
+"You are the very man I want to see," he said. "If you have ten
+minutes to spare, I think I can give you some useful information. I
+have just been having a long conversation with Lord Ravenspur, and he
+has asked me to lay certain facts before you."
+
+"I can come with you now," Dallas said. "We can talk as we go along
+the road. Now, sir."
+
+"It is rather a long story," Walter said. "I suppose you Scotland Yard
+people keep yourselves _au fait_ with most of the sensational crimes
+which take place on the Continent? I suppose, for instance, you
+remember the death by poisoning of Count Boris Flavio, and how his
+wife was charged no fewer than five times with the crime?"
+
+Dallas fairly started.
+
+"That is a most extraordinary thing," he said. "I don't mind telling
+you that within the last day or two, or rather within the last few
+hours, we have blundered upon a startling light on that crime. It so
+happens that an Italian detective, who has come here to take a
+prisoner back to Rome, has interested himself in the Fitzjohn
+business, more or less because Mrs. Delahay is Italian herself. This
+detective Berti was not in court during the inquest, but he came round
+here an hour or two ago and expressed a casual wish to see Mrs.
+Delahay. He managed to do so for a moment, and then he made a
+statement that fairly took my breath away. But come with me as far as
+Scotland Yard and you shall hear him tell the story himself. I won't
+spoil it for him."
+
+A little while later Walter found himself in the presence of a slim,
+diminutive man, with a fierce moustache and an exceedingly mild,
+insinuating manner.
+
+"This is my friend Berti," Dallas explained. "And this, Berti, is Mr.
+Walter Lance, nephew of Lord Ravenspur. He mentioned the Flavio case
+to me just now with a view to getting a little information. I told him
+that you had had the whole business in hand, and you had better let
+him know that you are in a position to place your finger upon the
+Countess Flavio at any moment."
+
+"Oh, that is an easy matter," Berti said. "I had the privilege of
+seeing the Countess this evening; but she does not call herself
+countess now. She is Mrs. Louis Delahay."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+STRONG MEASURES.
+
+
+"You have made a most extraordinary mistake," Walter said. "On and off
+I have known Mrs. Delahay for some considerable time. I am quite
+certain that she is no relation whatever to Countess Flavio."
+
+"And I, sir, am equally positive," the Italian detective replied. "I
+think my friend Inspector Dallas told you just now that I had the
+Flavio case in hand from the first. Indeed, I have had many
+conversations with the Countess. So positive am I that I am right that
+I will be prepared to make an affidavit of the facts."
+
+"This is very strange," Lance murmured. "I cannot but believe that you
+have been deceived by a strong likeness between two different women. I
+know all about Mrs. Delahay. She comes from a very good Italian
+family, though I believe they were poor; they were exceedingly proud
+and exclusive, and until the death of her parents, Mrs. Delahay lived
+a life of almost monastic seclusion."
+
+"Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me her name?" Berti asked. "It
+might facilitate matters."
+
+"Certainly," Walter Lance replied. "Before she was married Mrs.
+Delahay was Signora Descarti."
+
+A peculiar smile flitted over his face.
+
+"That is assuredly a point in my favour," he said, "seeing that
+Countess Flavio also was Signora Descarti."
+
+Lance began to feel less sure of his ground. It appeared to him that
+the mystery was deeper than he had anticipated, and the more he came
+to investigate, the more bewildering the puzzle was. Certainly he had
+known Maria Delahay for the last three years on and off, but when he
+came to think over matters it struck him for the first time with
+peculiar force that, really, he knew little or nothing of Maria
+Delahay's antecedents. He well recollected the time when Louis Delahay
+announced his approaching marriage. He recalled that evening
+perfectly. Delahay had been a self-contained sort of man, and one of
+the last persons in the world to associate with matrimony, but he
+seemed to have found his fate at length, and had quite come out of his
+shell, discussing his future wife with Lance.
+
+And what was it that he had told him after all? In the first instance,
+Signora Descarti was no longer in the bloom of her youth. In the
+second place, she was shy and retiring, possibly because, up to a
+certain time, she had lived such a secluded life. Despite the fact
+that she was of excellent family, she was earning a precarious living
+with her brush, and Delahay had hinted that there had been a romance
+in her early days which had coloured her life. Really, beyond this,
+Walter Lance had no knowledge of this unhappy woman's past, and he did
+not forget that the Flavio affair was nearly twenty years old. Except
+by the police, the thing was absolutely forgotten. It was almost
+impossible that anybody besides these authorities would recognise
+Carlotta, Countess Flavio, at this moment.
+
+It came upon Lance with quite a shock that his unfortunate friend,
+after all, might have married a woman who had been tried five times on
+the capital charge. Eighteen years is a long span in a human life, and
+many changes can happen in that time.
+
+Lance put aside the uneasy thoughts that rose to his mind, and turned
+to Berti again.
+
+"That is distinctly a point in your favour," he said. "I confess that
+the fact that both ladies possessed the same maiden name comes as a
+shock to me. And yet, even now, I can't altogether abandon the idea
+that this is nothing more than a coincidence. But, tell me, what
+opinion did you form of Countess Flavio's character?"
+
+The Italian smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Enigma," he said, "the woman seemed to be without feeling altogether,
+from the time that I arrested her until her final acquittal I never
+knew her display any feeling at all. Even when I had to announce to
+her that she was at liberty, she gave no sign of pleasure or relief.
+She was like a creature who had been deprived of all the emotions,
+like some people you see who are deeply addicted to the drug habit. I
+have seen her execrated by a mob of excited people, and taking no more
+notice of them than if she were deaf. Yes; she was a most
+extraordinary woman."
+
+"Did you believe her guilty?" Lance asked.
+
+"Ah, there you puzzle me," Berti replied. "Upon my word, I don't know.
+Opinion was so equally divided; in each case the jury was balanced for
+and against. Sometimes I thought the woman was guilty, and sometimes I
+thought she was innocent. Of course, it was that extraordinary _alibi_
+which saved her life. There was no getting away from it, for the
+testimony in the woman's favour was given by people who were total
+strangers to her. On the other hand, all the household servants came
+forward one after the other, and gave their mistress a very bad name,
+indeed. On their testimony she would have been executed, without a
+doubt. If only half they said was true, the Countess Flavio was a
+fiend."
+
+"Did no servant testify in her favour?" Lance asked.
+
+"Well, one. And he was a manservant who had accompanied the Countess
+from her own home. According to his account, his mistress was a
+perfect angel, and the Count was no more nor less than a disgrace to
+humanity. This testimony passed for very little, seeing that Count
+Flavio's neighbours and tenants came forward and spoke of him as a man
+of singular charm and virtue."
+
+"I have heard that," Lance said, thoughtfully. "You see, Lord
+Ravenspur, my uncle, was a great friend of the Count. I understand
+that he never met the Countess, though he had an interview with the
+Count not long before his death. According to what Lord Ravenspur
+says, at that time the Count walked in fear of his life. He was very
+fearful lest his wife should try to destroy him. And now you tell me
+that the Countess Flavio was no less than the wife of my friend
+Delahay. I don't know what to think about it. I presume that Inspector
+Dallas will take steps to assure himself that Mrs. Delahay is the
+woman you take her to be."
+
+"Well, yes," Dallas said grimly; "I don't see how the matter can rest
+here. We know perfectly well that Mrs. Delahay was away from her hotel
+for upwards of two hours on the night of her husband's death. It has
+been proved that she was seen in his company. And yet, at the first
+outset, she declares that she has not been outside her bedroom. One
+doesn't like to come to conclusions; they are fatal things to form in
+our profession. But it seems to me pretty obvious that there is one
+person who could clear up this mystery, and she happens to be the dead
+man's wife."
+
+Lance had nothing to say in objection to this. Still, at the same
+time, there was a haunting doubt in the back of his mind that
+circumstances were shaping themselves against Maria Delahay apart from
+any faults of her own.
+
+"You haven't enough to justify an immediate arrest, I suppose?" he
+asked. "You see what I mean?"
+
+"Oh, I see perfectly well what you mean, sir," Inspector Dallas
+replied. "There is nothing to gain by such a course. It is impossible
+for the woman to get away. Indeed, we should take immediate steps to
+prevent her leaving the country. If she is the guilty party, she will
+be much more use to us as a free woman than she would be as a
+suspected criminal under lock and key. But, unless I am mistaken, Mr.
+Lance, you came here to tell me something."
+
+"I had clean forgotten all about it," Lance exclaimed. "But as it is
+getting late now, if you don't mind I will leave it till the morning.
+It is a long story."
+
+A few moments later and Lance was retracing his steps in the direction
+of the Grand Hotel. He was going to do wrong; he was going to do
+something which, sooner or later, might land him in serious trouble,
+but that did not deter him for a moment. In the hall of the hotel he
+scribbled a hasty note, and sent it up to Mrs. Delahay. A message came
+down in a moment or two to say that Mrs. Delahay would be pleased to
+see Mr. Lance.
+
+He found her waiting in the sitting-room, just as cold and pale and
+impassive as before.
+
+"You have something very important?" she asked.
+
+"Indeed, I have," Lance exclaimed. "I want you to believe that I am
+actuated entirely by the friendliest motives, and if I speak plainly
+you will understand that I am not wanting in feeling. I have been with
+Inspector Dallas tonight and he introduced me to an Italian detective
+whose name is Berti. The latter assures me that his name is quite
+familiar to you."
+
+"He is quite mistaken," Mrs. Delahay said in her cold, even voice. "I
+don't know anybody of that name. As to a policeman, I never had the
+honour of speaking to one in my life."
+
+"You are quite certain of that?"
+
+"Absolutely. If it were true, what should I have to gain by denying
+it? If you have anything to say to me, it will be far better to speak
+quite plainly."
+
+The woman spoke quietly enough. It was impossible to believe that she
+was wilfully deceiving her questioner.
+
+"Very well, then," Lance said, "I may as well tell you that this man
+Berti was the detective who had the Flavio case in hand. You will
+remember, of course, what an extraordinary sensation that drama caused
+in Italy many years ago."
+
+"Did it?" Mrs. Delahay said indifferently. "I never had the slightest
+interest in that kind of thing. So far as this particular case is
+concerned, I never heard of it before."
+
+Lance could only stare in astonishment. She was speaking and acting
+now just as, according to Berti, the Countess Flavio had behaved
+before and during the trial. Was she the sport of circumstance, or was
+she the woman she denied herself to be?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+LOOKING BACKWARDS.
+
+
+"That is very strange," Lance murmured. "I am told that the trial in
+question was the talk of Europe for two or three years. I believe the
+papers were full of it at the time. And yet you don't seem to have
+heard of it. Isn't the name of Flavio familiar to you at all? It is
+not a common name."
+
+As Lance spoke he saw a swift and subtle change pass over the face of
+his companion. A flame of colour stained either cheek; then it was
+gone, leaving her still more ghastly white than before.
+
+"I have not told you quite the truth," the woman said; "but in twenty
+years one forgets even the keenest of sorrows. Now I come to think of
+it, the name of Flavio reminds me of one of the most unhappy
+experiences in my existence. There was a certain Count Flavio whose
+estates joined those of my father. For some generations there had been
+a deep and bitter feud existing between the Flavios and the Descartis.
+The head of the Flavios was a very old man, who had two sons. Not to
+make a long story of it, the young people met, and fell in love with
+each other: the young people on one side being my sister and myself.
+The intrigue was found out, of course, and for the next ten years I
+was practically a prisoner in my father's house. He had a gloomy old
+fortress somewhere up country, and there I was detained. I might have
+been there still had my parents lived."
+
+"And your sister?" Lance asked. "What of her?"
+
+Again the woman hesitated. Again the look of pain and suffering swept
+like a wave across her face.
+
+"They told me my sister was dead," she murmured. "I had to take their
+word for it."
+
+"And you believed it? You believe it still? I hope you will pardon me
+for my persistent questions, but it is quite necessary that I should
+put them. Do you feel quite convinced?"
+
+Once more Mrs. Delahay hesitated. Once more she seemed to shrink as if
+in physical pain.
+
+"How can I know? How can I tell?" she asked. "Did I not say that I had
+been a prisoner all those years? This would account for the fact that
+I know nothing about that Flavio tragedy. Are you going to tell me
+that it is one and the same family to whom my sister and myself were
+attached?"
+
+"Indeed, I do," Lance went on. "Your Count Flavio had two sons. When
+he died his elder son came into the title and estates. That was the
+man who was afterwards poisoned by his wife; at least, a great many
+people think so. And his wife's name was Carlotta. Her surname was
+Descarti. My dear Mrs. Delahay, it is impossible to believe that this
+is a coincidence."
+
+"I quite agree with you," Mrs. Delahay said, in a low voice. "They
+seem to have deceived me about my sister, and my parents told me that
+she was dead. I suppose they meant that she was dead to the family.
+She must have made her escape, and married her lover after all. I was
+less fortunate. But what you say absolutely overwhelms me. The man
+that my sister loved was a splendid specimen of humanity; he was
+kind-hearted and generous; in every sense of the word he was a
+gentleman. And I can vouch for my sister's many good qualities. To say
+that she poisoned him is absurd. Why, she simply worshipped him. But,
+tell me, what opinion did the world form as to the merits of this
+extraordinary case?"
+
+'"I want to spare you as much pain as possible," Lance murmured. "But
+your sister was held up to execration as a fiend in human form. One
+servant after another gave evidence to this effect. They seemed to
+think that your sister was not altogether sane--but why should I
+torture you with these details? What I really came here to tell you is
+this. The Italian detective, Berti, who had the case in hand, is in
+England at the present moment, and he has seen you. He declares that
+you are Countess Flavio. You can see how seriously this accusation may
+tell against you--later on."
+
+Lance uttered the last two words reluctantly enough, but Mrs. Delahay
+saw their full significance.
+
+"Oh, I know what you mean," she said. "You mean that I have placed
+myself in a perilous position. But there is one thing I can assure
+you--I am not the Countess Flavio. If necessary, when the time comes,
+I can prove this in a manner which would set even that Italian
+policeman's suspicions at rest. It is very kind of you to take all
+this trouble on my behalf. I suppose you want me to tell the whole
+truth, and say why I denied being away from the hotel the other night,
+when three people can come forward and show that my statement is
+false. Well, it was false. I don't mind going as far as that. But more
+I cannot and will not say, except that I am an innocent woman who has
+been a prey to cruel misfortune all her life."
+
+There was determination as well as sadness in the words. Lance could
+see that he was merely wasting his time.
+
+"Think it well over," he said; "give it every consideration. I will
+call and see you again in the morning."
+
+No reply came from Maria Delahay. She merely held out her hand, and
+Lance took his leave without another word. Then the woman dropped into
+a chair, and covered her face with her hands.
+
+Why did Fate persecute her in this way, she asked herself. Why had her
+life been such a misery for the past twenty years. Surely all this was
+a terrible price to pay for a childish indiscretion. And yet, though
+the years had been long and burdensome, it seemed but a brief step
+back to the happy, sunny days when she and her sister had been
+children playing in the woods at home and getting every drop of
+enjoyment out of life. Then they had hardly comprehended the feud that
+existed between the Descartis and the Flavios. Indeed, they had looked
+upon it as rather a silly business altogether and a distinct nuisance
+to mutual friends and neighbours. They had begun to notice, too, that
+the sons of old Flavio were good to look upon, and finally one day a
+slight adventure in the woods had thrown the young people together.
+
+The thing had begun in a harmless fashion enough. They met again, and
+yet once more. They fell in the way of discussing the family quarrel
+and making light of it. From then on the path was pleasant and easy
+enough, and one day the two girls awoke to the fact that they were
+both deeply in love with the sons of their hereditary enemy. It was at
+this point that stern old Descarti discovered the great secret.
+
+What happened after that Maria Descarti hardly knew. There was a
+terrible storm of rage and passion, sleepless nights, and tear-bedewed
+pillows, and then such a life of greyness and despair that the girls
+had never dreamt of. When at length she ventured courage to ask after
+her sister, she was told that the latter was dead. She took this
+statement literally, and she resigned herself to the inevitable.
+
+The prison doors were open at length, but only on the death of her
+parent, and there she was at forty years of age, helpless and
+friendless, with no knowledge of the world, and nothing to aid her
+besides her brush and pencil. The struggle was indeed a hard one, and
+it looked like ending at length when she came in contact with Louis
+Delahay. She had no strong passion to give him, nothing but the
+tranquil affection of approaching middle age.
+
+She had been perfectly candid in the matter, and Delahay knew exactly
+what he had to expect. Perhaps the prospect of tranquil happiness was
+far better than the rosy dreams of youth. And all this was now
+shattered by the unexpected tragedy.
+
+Maria Delahay had reached this point in her thoughts; then her mind
+wandered on to what Lance had recently told her. And so, after all,
+her sister was alive. This knowledge had not reached Maria Delahay
+tonight. She had suspected it for some days, and it had come about in
+quite a prosaic way.
+
+She could see it now quite clearly in her mind. The pleasant-mannered
+chambermaid had come into the sitting-room soon after Delahay had gone
+out on that fatal evening. She had evidently taken a liking to her
+visitor. Maria could see her now as she fussed about the room.
+
+"Is there anything you want?" she asked.
+
+"You seem to have forgotten me," the girl said. "I waited upon you
+when you were here last spring."
+
+"Last spring!" Mrs. Delahay exclaimed. "Why, surely, you have made a
+mistake. I have never been here before."
+
+"Oh, madam," the girl said reproachfully, "you are making fun of me.
+You came here by yourself, and stayed for the best part of a week. You
+had very few visitors, and you used to talk to me a good deal. . . .
+Only the name is different. You used to have Carlotta, not Maria, on
+the envelopes I brought up to you."
+
+Mrs. Delahay started. With difficulty she restrained her feelings, for
+the chambermaid's innocent words had let a flood of light in a dark
+place. In the happy old days people were constantly mistaking her for
+her sister. Was it possible that her sister was still alive? Was it
+possible that she had been deceived all this time? A little
+dissimulation might be the means of getting the truth from the voluble
+chambermaid.
+
+"You have sharp eyes," she said, "and, no doubt, a good memory. How
+long did I stay here, and where did I go afterwards?"
+
+"It was a little over a week," the girl said. "And then you went away
+to Number Seventeen, Isleworth Road, Kensington. I remember the
+address because I have a sister in service who used to live next door.
+Perhaps madam does not want to be remembered? There are many reasons
+why it is prudent not to know too much."
+
+"I am glad to see you are so discreet," Mrs. Delahay smiled. "There is
+no reason to mention this to anybody else, you understand?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+AFTER MANY YEARS.
+
+
+Left alone to herself, Maria Delahay had summed up the situation
+clearly and logically. Beyond all doubt her sister was still alive.
+Beyond all doubt Carlotta had been staying at the Grand Hotel within
+the past twelve months. She, too, seemed to have had her misfortunes,
+misfortunes more keen and cruel than even those of her younger sister.
+It was very strange that Maria should learn the truth in this fashion.
+It was stranger still that she should discover the house to which
+Carlotta had gone on leaving the hotel. Up to this moment Maria had no
+idea of going out herself. She intended to go straight to bed and
+await her husband's return.
+
+Now a strange restlessness came over her. She felt it impossible to
+remain imprisoned within those four walls. There was no likelihood of
+Louis Delahay's return for the next two hours. Why, then, should she
+not go out and take a cab as far as Isleworth Road? It was very late,
+of course, but then London was a late place, and a midnight call no
+novelty.
+
+Allowing herself to act on the impulse of the moment, Maria walked
+downstairs, and out into the Strand. Hailing a cab, she was driven to
+Isleworth Road, where she gave orders for the driver to stop. The
+locality was a respectable one, and there were lights in a good many
+of the houses; but at number seventeen Mrs. Delahay met with
+disappointment. The house was not empty, though the blinds were down,
+and there was not a light to be seen. The dingy nature of the steps
+and the tarnished look of the brasswork testified to the fact that
+neither had received any attention of late. As Maria stood there
+ringing the bell for the third time, in the faint hope of making
+somebody hear, a policeman came along.
+
+"You are wasting your time there, lady," he said civilly enough. "The
+people are not at home. I think they are coming back at the end of the
+week, because my instructions to keep a special eye on the house don't
+go beyond Saturday."
+
+Maria thanked the officer and went back in a cab. She would have liked
+to have asked more questions, but she restrained her natural
+curiosity. After all, it was not a far cry to Saturday, and even then
+she might meet with a disappointment. In all probability her sister
+had left London long ago.
+
+Maria was thinking all these things over now that Walter Lance had
+gone. She wondered that her sister had so completely passed out of her
+mind. But, then, she had had so many terrible anxieties to weigh her
+down. She could not sleep for thinking of the tragedy. She paced up
+and down the room in a vain attempt to get away from herself. The
+clocks outside were striking the hour of midnight, but the roar of the
+Strand was going on still as if it were high noon. A sudden resolve
+came to the woman. She would go out at once and try her luck at
+Isleworth Road again.
+
+She took no cab this time. She knew the way. As she walked along she
+was conscious of the fact that she was being followed. She smiled
+bitterly to herself. What had those people to be afraid of? Did they
+think she was going to run away?
+
+Her heart gave a great leap as she saw the lights gleaming behind the
+drawn blinds at No. 17. She had only to ring once, then the door was
+promptly opened by a typical English servant, who waited for the
+visitor to speak.
+
+"I think there is a lady here I want to see," Maria stammered. "At
+least she was here for some time in the spring. You see, she is my
+sister, and we have not met for twenty years. It may appear strange,
+but I don't even know her name."
+
+It seemed to Maria that this was a proper precaution on her part.
+Though her explanation sounded weak enough, to her great relief she
+saw the servant smile and open the door a little wider.
+
+"That is all right, madam," the servant said. "I can see that you are
+my mistress's sister by the likeness. Will you please come this way."
+
+The next five minutes seemed like an hour to Maria. Then the door
+opened, and a tall, dark woman came in. The two looked at one another
+for quite a minute in absolute silence. It was so strange to meet
+after all these years, so sad for both to see how the other had
+altered. Then Maria Delahay moved forward, and the two women kissed
+each other almost coldly.
+
+"Why did you come here?" the Countess said. "How did you manage to
+find me out? I thought you were dead."
+
+"I thought you were dead, too, till the other night," Maria said. "I
+was told that twenty years ago. I should not be here at all but for an
+amazing chance. You will remember that you were staying at the Grand
+Hotel some time in the spring, and it so happens that my rooms are on
+the same floor as yours, and that the same chambermaid is still there.
+When she welcomed me as an old customer I guessed by instinct that you
+were still alive. And if you only knew it, there is a providence
+behind this thing."
+
+Countess Flavio appeared to be listening in a dull, mechanical kind of
+way. There was no disguising the fact that she was both distressed and
+disconcerted to find herself face to face with her long-lost sister
+again. "You know nothing of my history?" she asked. "Not till
+tonight," Maria said. "I have recently been listening to it. I knew
+nothing. How could I know anything? When our dream of happiness came
+so suddenly to an end I became practically a prisoner in that dreadful
+old house of ours near Naples. I was told that you were dead, and I
+believed the story. I knew nothing of your existence till a day or two
+ago. I was utterly ignorant of the fact that you had had such a
+dreadful time. Not that I would believe anything they say, Carlotta,
+because I know what you were in the old days. But however dreadful
+your experiences have been, you, at any rate, snatched a brief
+happiness. You married the man of your choice. How did you manage to
+escape?"
+
+"Oh, don't ask me," Carlotta Flavio said bitterly. "If you only knew
+everything you would see that you were far better off in your prison
+than I was with my liberty. Do you know that I was five times tried
+for my life? Do you know that for four years I was the most execrated
+woman in South Italy? But I am not going into that now. I want to know
+what brings you here this evening. Why you should come at such an
+inconvenient time?"
+
+"But why inconvenient?" Mrs. Delahay protested. "We were fond of one
+another in the old times. And what more natural than I should seek out
+my sister at the first opportunity? But you are changed. Doubtless
+your misfortunes have soured you. I have had my misfortunes, too. Of
+course you have heard lately a good deal about Mr. Louis Delahay--I
+mean the unfortunate artist who was found murdered in his studio the
+other night?"
+
+Countess Flavio started. Her lips grew white.
+
+"Who has not heard of it?" she said. "The papers are full of the
+tragedy. People are talking about nothing else. But you are not going
+to tell me that there is any connection----"
+
+"Indeed, I am," Maria went on. "As I said just now, for years I was no
+better than a prisoner. I should be a prisoner still if our parents
+had lived. Then, finally, when I found my freedom, I made a discovery
+that there was absolutely no money left. I was forced to get my own
+living. I had nothing beyond my brush, and things were going from bad
+to worse with me when I made the acquaintance of Louis Delahay. We
+always liked one another from the first, and when he asked me to marry
+him I gladly consented. It seemed to me that the way was opening up
+for a happy middle-age. It seemed to me that Fate had got tired of
+persecuting me at last. I married Louis Delahay and we came back to
+England."
+
+"You married Delahay?" the Countess said mechanically, "and you came
+back to England? I am trying to realise it. I read the account of the
+inquest. I know that people are saying that Delahay's wife is
+responsible for his death; but I did not dream then that it was my own
+sister whom folks were condemning. I cannot believe it now. But why
+did you go out that evening. If you had remained in your room nobody
+would have been----"
+
+"I left the hotel to come here," Maria replied. "But I found that you
+were not in London. And now I am going to tell you why it is that I
+have refused to speak, why it is that I have allowed people to regard
+me as a perjurer. You say you read the account of the inquest. Do you
+recollect what a poor creature called Stevens said? He swore, and,
+what is more, he believed every word he said, that he saw Louis and
+myself together in Fitzjohn Square early on that fatal morning. Come,
+if you read the paper carefully, you must have seen that. It was the
+most sensational piece of evidence given at the inquest. The man
+picked me out in court, and said positively that he had seen me with
+Louis. But he didn't, as you know perfectly well."
+
+"As I know perfectly well?" the Countess stammered. "What have I got
+to do with it? Where do I come in?"
+
+Maria Delahay threw up her hands with an impatient gesture. There was
+a steady gleam in her eyes now. She had lost all her listless manner.
+
+"I was not there," she said, "because I was somewhere else. That James
+Stevens saw someone with my husband on that morning is absolutely
+certain. It is absolutely certain, too, that he did not see me. Then
+who did he see whose likeness to me is so great as to deceive a pair
+of keen eyes under a brilliant electric light? It was you, _you_,
+Carlotta, who were walking with my husband at that hour in the
+morning. Now tell me what it all means."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+CARLOTTA'S STORY.
+
+
+"On, this is terrible," the Countess stammered.
+
+"Of course it is," Maria Delahay cried. "Why don't you be candid with
+me? I have told you what my name is, and, besides, you already knew.
+When you saw my husband on that fatal night your likeness to me would
+have struck him at once, and explanations would have followed. Then
+why are you trying to deceive me now?"
+
+"I hardly know what I am saying," the Countess replied. "The whole
+thing is such a terrible complication. I don't want to deceive you,
+Maria, and I will tell you all I can. You might believe me or not, but
+when I read of the death of Louis Delahay, for the moment I had quite
+forgotten you. You see it was a great shock to me when you came in
+just now, especially as I had not seen you for so many years. But I am
+getting muddled up again. I am beginning to wonder which of us is
+which. It seems to me that all this miserable business is merely the
+result of the strong likeness which exists between us."
+
+"Never mind that," Mrs. Delahay cried. "If you will remember, in my
+evidence I said my husband had gone out, that he did not return all
+night, and that I found him dead in Fitzjohn Square in the morning. I
+was out of the hotel for nearly two hours trying to find you, after I
+had been so strangely put on your track by the chambermaid. Perhaps it
+was a foolish thing on my part to conceal my absence, but, of course,
+I never guessed the result of my folly. It never occurred to me till
+afterwards that my absence from the hotel could be so easily proved.
+Even that did not matter so much. And when the witness Stevens swore
+that he saw me with my husband at a time when I had said I was in my
+hotel, things began to look serious for me. I know perfectly well that
+I may be arrested at any moment on a charge of murdering my husband.
+How true that charge will be I leave you to judge for yourself. But
+the mystery was no longer a mystery to me when Stevens told the court
+most positively that he had seen me with my husband. I did not know
+that Louis was acquainted with you. He never mentioned your name, but
+directly Stevens had finished I knew that it must have been you who
+was with my husband; and now I must ask you to give me an
+explanation."
+
+"That is an easier matter than it seems," Countess Flavio said. "I
+knew Louis Delahay, though he had no acquaintance with me."
+
+"That sounds impossible," Maria murmured.
+
+"Oh, I know it does, but it is true all the same; and to make my story
+plain I shall have to go back nearly eighteen years. The events which
+led to my making Louis Delahay's acquaintance took place near Florence
+at the time I mentioned."
+
+"That is strange," Mrs. Delahay murmured. "I was in Florence about
+then, too. Yes, I know I told you that I was practically a prisoner
+all those years, but there were times when I had a certain latitude. I
+was very ill about that time, and the doctor ordered me to Florence,
+saying that it was good for me to see people and mix with crowds. I
+was supposed to be there by myself, but there was no movement of mine
+which was not noted. I never took even the shortest walk without being
+dogged and spied upon. The people who called themselves my servants
+were, in reality, my gaolers. But why do I worry you with these
+trivial details when there is so much of importance to say? Go on with
+your story."
+
+"Well, as I was saying," the Countess explained, "I was in Florence
+with my husband. We had been married then something like three years.
+We had rather a lonely villa on the outskirts of the town. Ours was
+not a happy life; indeed, it was most miserable. I daresay there were
+faults on my side, too; but one night we had a violent quarrel, and,
+on the spur of the moment, I made up my mind to run away. I managed to
+get all my jewels together. I managed to leave the house in darkness
+and steal through the grounds to the road. I was dressed all in black,
+and I remember the night was very thick. Just as I was congratulating
+myself on my escape my husband overtook me. He was beside himself with
+passion. He laid violent hands upon me. I believe he would have killed
+me if I had not managed to wrench myself free and make for the road.
+What we said I do not know, but I suppose our voices must have carried
+far, for I had only got a little down the road, with my husband in hot
+pursuit behind me, when a man emerged from the cottage and caught me
+by the arm. At first I thought he was one of my husband's tools, but
+the first words that he said reassured me."
+
+"'Do not be afraid,' he whispered. 'I was trespassing on the Count's
+property just now, and I heard all that was said. That man is
+dangerous, and it is necessary that I should protect you for the
+present. Come in here with me.'"
+
+"He did not wait for me to consent. He fairly lifted me from the
+ground into the blackness and seclusion of the cottage. It was all
+done in less time than it takes to tell. A moment later I heard my
+husband go raging down the road, and then I knew that my life was
+saved. Mind you, it was altogether too dark to see my rescuer. It
+would have been imprudent to strike a light. I stayed for some little
+time until I regained my composure, after which I made up my mind to
+return home again. It would never do for people to think that a
+Descarti was a coward, and, besides, there were other considerations.
+I would go back home again and give my husband one more chance,
+especially as I had a friend in the house in the person of Luigi
+Silva, who had followed me on my marriage. At the same time, I did not
+forget the dictates of prudence. It might be still necessary for me to
+seek an asylum, and my instinct told me that I could trust the man by
+my side. On the spur of the moment I implored him to take care of my
+jewels for me. He demurred for a time on the score that he was a
+perfect stranger to me, then, finally, he consented, at the same time
+taking from his pocket a card, which he said contained his name and
+address. And thus the strange interview ended, thus we parted, never
+to meet again till that fatal night we came together in Fitzjohn
+Square. I know the story sounds incredible."
+
+"Not to me," said Mrs. Delahay, sadly. "Nothing could be incredible to
+a woman who has gone through what I have. But go on. You went back
+home again, after entrusting your jewelry to a perfect stranger whose
+face you had never seen."
+
+"Indeed, I did. And we should never have known one another even if we
+had met. I went back to the villa, and afterwards we returned to our
+estate. But it was not for long. A month or two later my husband was
+found dead in bed, and it was proved beyond question that he had been
+poisoned. Then began a time for me--a time of terror and anxiety so
+great that I sometimes marvelled that I retained my reason. For four
+years the torture lasted, and then, at length, I was free. I was in so
+strange and morbid a condition that the sight of a human face was
+hateful to me. I wanted to go off and live on some distant island
+until I recovered my nerve and strength again. I succeeded at length
+in finding the place I needed, and for twelve or thirteen years I led
+a life of absolute seclusion in a little cottage high up the Italian
+Alps. I had taken a certain amount of money with me, but I woke up to
+the fact one day that my means were exhausted. You must know that I
+fled straight away, as soon as the last trial was finished, and that
+all those years I never saw a single face that was familiar to me. But
+by the end of that period I was quite myself again. I felt a strange
+longing to go into the world and see what life was like once more.
+Besides, there was my child to consider."
+
+"Your child?" Mrs. Delahay cried. "This is the first time you have
+mentioned a child. Do you mean to say that you could part with your
+own flesh and blood in that callous way?"
+
+The Countess' expression hardened for a moment.
+
+"She was his child as well as mine," she whispered.
+
+"Well, what of that? I fail to see that it makes any difference. Your
+husband might have been a passionate man, but, apart from that,
+everybody spoke exceedingly well of him. He was immensely popular. He
+was clever and generous. He had hosts of friends--I know that through
+an English nobleman, who was greatly attached to the Count. Everybody
+spoke well of him."
+
+"Oh, I know, I know," the Countess said, with a bitter smile. "The
+catalogue of his virtues was trumpeted high enough at the trial, and I
+was no more than an inhuman wretch, not fit to live, certainly not fit
+to have a husband like Count Boris Flavio. But you shall hear my story
+presently. You shall hear what my witness has to say. At any rate, I
+hated my husband with a deep and abiding hate, so that I could not
+bear to look upon the face of his child. You may say that all this is
+unnatural and inhuman, but you little know what I had to put up with.
+Still, twelve or fourteen years will heal most wounds, and when I came
+back into the world I was possessed with a longing to see my daughter.
+I did not like to go back to the old place again, so I sent to make
+inquiries. Imagine my feelings when I heard that my daughter, Vera,
+had been kidnapped during the time of the first trial, and that she
+had never been seen again. That is two years ago now. I managed to
+communicate with Luigi Silva, and he was just as astonished and
+surprised as I was. Naturally, he thought that I had made arrangements
+with Vera, and that she was with me all the time. One of my reasons
+for coming to England was to try and find my child. My other reason
+was to see Mr. Louis Delahay and get my jewels back from him. This was
+quite imperative, as I am at my wits' end for money."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+VALDO IN A NEW LIGHT.
+
+
+"How did you know my husband was in England?" Maria asked.
+
+"I didn't," the Countess confessed. "I looked for him all over the
+Continent. I should have written to him, only I had mislaid his card,
+which I found at length after a long search. Seeing that the address
+was Fitzjohn Square, I thought I would come and interview Mr. Delahay.
+It was quite late at night that I found that he was staying at the
+Grand Hotel, and as things were very pressing indeed, I sent him an
+express letter asking for an interview early in the morning. In
+response I received a telegram saying that he would see me at once,
+and if I could manage to be at the corner of Fitzjohn Square at one
+o'clock in the morning. I told you just now that things were very
+urgent, because I had taken this house furnished, and I had already
+had one or two unpleasant interviews with the landlord, who naturally
+wanted his money. The telegram seemed to be reasonable enough. Artists
+are very late people, and, besides, it occurred to me that Mr. Delahay
+had probably had those jewels in his house. At any rate, I met him.
+You can imagine how astonished he was when he saw my face. Of course,
+he naturally concluded that I was your sister, but he seemed to think
+that you had told him that I was dead. I suppose that was so."
+
+"Certainly it was," Mrs. Delahay said. "I was definitely told that you
+were dead. And when I related our unhappy story to my husband, I
+always spoke of you as one who was no more."
+
+"Yes; I quite see. Well, we went along very pleasantly together to the
+house, and it seemed to me that all I had to do was to get those
+jewels and come and call upon you. Naturally, I had not heard of you
+for years. Indeed, I regarded you as dead, much the same as you were
+under the impression that I no longer lived. But when we reached the
+studio, a light was burning there, and, looking in, I saw a man
+painting, a handsome man whom your husband told me was Lord Ravenspur.
+You can imagine that neither of us wanted to be seen. There was no
+occasion to raise any doubts in the intruder's mind, and so we waited
+till he was gone. Then my case of jewels was handed over to me, and I
+came straight back here. Not till late the next afternoon did I know
+what had happened."
+
+"Then there is nothing more you can tell me?" Mrs. Delahay asked.
+
+"I am sorry to say there is not. But since you have been here certain
+suspicions have begun to grow in my mind which fill me with dread. It
+would not be fair to utter them yet, until I am more certain of my
+facts. Still, I am glad you have come now, because I think you will be
+of assistance to me. You heard me speak just now of Luigi Silva, but,
+of course, you will remember him perfectly well?"
+
+"I recollect him," Mrs. Delahay said. "A queer-tempered man, with
+strange and wayward moods, but he was sincerely attached to us. I
+should like to see him again."
+
+"You _shall_ see him," the Countess said. "And if you have half an
+hour to spare it shall be this very night. When I discovered that my
+daughter had been stolen I got in touch with Silva, who, as I told you
+just now, was under the impression that I had taken Vera away and
+placed her in safe custody, lest the authorities should interfere and
+remove her from my influence. When he found that I had barely given
+Vera a thought all these years, he was furiously angry with me.
+Indeed, his rage knew no bounds. He had always been so faithful; he
+had always worked so hard for me, that I was astounded. He refused to
+have any more to do with me. He went off without leaving his address,
+and for some little time I have been searching for him in vain. Quite
+by accident I found him the other night. He seems to have turned his
+athletic powers to advantage, for he is performing in London now as a
+kind of flying man. I have seen the performance, and it is exceedingly
+clever. But that isn't what I want to talk to you about. I know where
+Silva, or Valdo, as he now calls himself, is to be met with. Within a
+few moments I want you to come along and add your persuasion to mine."
+
+"I will do anything you like," Mrs. Delahay said; "anything to get to
+the bottom of this singular mystery."
+
+The Countess started up at once, and proceeded to don her hat and
+cloak. Then she led the way to the back of the house.
+
+"There is a way out here," she said, "which leads into a lane. Now,
+come along. We have not very far to go."
+
+They turned out of the lane presently into a quiet, secluded
+thoroughfare, where the Countess stopped. They had not long to wait,
+for presently two figures came down the road, talking earnestly
+together. The light was not good, but it was quite sufficient to show
+Mrs. Delahay that one of the men was James Stevens.
+
+"The witness, Stevens," she whispered. "He must not see us together.
+There are many reasons why it is inadvisable that he should learn the
+truth. The other man looks like Silva; only it is difficult to be sure
+after all these years. Let me stand in this doorway till you have
+managed to get rid of Stevens."
+
+The Countess nodded her approval, and Maria Delahay slipped into the
+shadow of the door. From where she stood it was quite possible to see
+what was going on. She saw her sister approach the two men. She did
+not fail to note Stevens start as he recognised, or thought he
+recognised, the woman who was known to him as Maria Delahay. On the
+still air she could catch a word or two.
+
+"Very well," she heard Silva say sullenly. "I have one or two things
+to say to my friend here, and then I'll come back to you."
+
+The two men came past where the woman was standing in the doorway.
+They were conversing in deep whispers, so that the listener could
+catch only a word or two, yet those words filled her with vague
+apprehension. She caught the name of Ravenspur as it came hissing from
+Silva's lips. Then there was something she could not follow, and,
+finally, clearly enunciated the one word "tonight." A moment later and
+Stevens was shuffling off down the street, while Silva returned to
+Countess Flavio. As Mrs. Delahay joined them, the little Italian
+glanced from one to the other.
+
+"So you are both here," he said.
+
+There was something in the insolence of his manner that moved Mrs.
+Delahay to anger.
+
+"I should hardly have known you," she said; "certainly I should not
+have known you from the tone in which you are addressing us. Have you
+quite forgotten what you owe to your late master's children?"
+
+"I have forgotten nothing," Silva said. "Why do you come here
+persecuting me like this? Why cannot you let me alone? But for me your
+sister would have been in a dishonoured grave by now. I saved her
+life. I saved the good name of the family. And how am I repaid? What
+does she care so long as she saves herself. And yet I remember her a
+sweet and innocent child, just as I remember her own little one. Ah, I
+was fond of her, and she was fond of me. I could never have gone off
+and hidden myself, and left little Vera to the tender mercies of the
+world. I, a man, no relation, couldn't have done that. But that her
+mother could have done such a thing--ah, it seems unnatural,
+unwomanly."
+
+"You will find her for me?" the Countess said timidly.
+
+"I have found her," Silva whispered fiercely. "But whether I have
+found her for you or not is quite another matter. I was your good
+friend once. I was your devoted slave and servant. I would have laid
+down my life for you both, and you know it. But all that I felt for
+you was as nothing compared to my love for your little one. And when
+you told me that you had left her without another thought, my blood
+fairly boiled with passion. I thought you had taken her with you. I
+fondly imagined that you were devoting the rest of your life to her
+welfare and happiness. And then, one day, you come coolly to me and
+ask me where you can find your child. You go your own way, and leave
+me to go mine. I suppose you have found out that I come this way home,
+and so have waylaid me. But you will never get me to raise a finger on
+your behalf again. Still, it does not much matter. I know where the
+child is. I shall know how to act when the time comes. My vengeance is
+ready, when I care to stretch out my hand to take it."
+
+The words poured from the speaker's lips in a torrent of passionate
+vehemence. He fairly quivered with rage. He seemed to be beside
+himself with anger. There was something almost akin to madness in his
+eyes.
+
+"Oh, calm yourself," the Countess said. "My good Silva, I make every
+allowance for your feelings, but you are going altogether too far.
+You, above all men, ought to know how I longed to get away from
+anything that reminded me of my husband. Don't forget that she was his
+child as well as mine, and that she had her father's eyes and charm of
+expression. Besides, I was barely responsible for my actions then.
+Consider what I had had to go through. Consider my mental torture and
+degradation. And yet you say it was my duty day by day to watch my
+child and see the hateful pleasantness of her father's smile looking
+at me from behind her innocent features. Oh, I couldn't do it. I tried
+to persuade myself that it was my duty, but all to no avail. I was in
+such a state of nervous exhaustion then, so near the borderland of
+insanity, that I believe I should have taken the life of the child if
+she had gone with me. And, naturally, I thought that she was with
+friends. I knew that you would see that she was all right. And, in
+addition to all this, she was her father's heiress."
+
+"But who was interested in taking her away?" Mrs. Delahay asked. "I
+don't see how anybody could gain anything by saddling themselves with
+a child like that."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+TO BE IN TIME.
+
+
+"It is plain enough to me," Silva growled; "but then I am acquainted
+with the facts of which you two know nothing. With all his faults,
+Count Flavio was passionately attached to his little girl. Through her
+he could see a means of stabbing his wife to the heart, and he was
+never the man to hesitate where a piece of refined cruelty was
+concerned. He arranged that kidnapping himself."
+
+"Incredible," Mrs. Delahay cried. "And why?"
+
+"Have I not just told you so?" Silva went on. "You remember Count
+Flavio and his brother twenty years ago? You recollect what a handsome
+man he was? No one was more popular or sought after. No one was more
+pleasing and fascinating. But behind that fair exterior was the nature
+and disposition of a devil. Oh, I knew it before that unhappy marriage
+took place. And that was why I insisted upon accompanying Signora
+Carlotta when she fled with the count. It was not long before she
+found him out. It was not long before he began to employ the petty
+tyrannies which poisoned her life and made existence almost
+unendurable. I have stood behind his chair when guests have been
+present. I have seen his clever simulation of affection, whilst all
+the time he was saying things that wound sensitive women and drive
+them to despair. Many a time I have been tempted to thrust a knife
+between his shoulders. More than once I have had my hand upon a blade.
+But if I stayed here all night I could not sum up the catalogue of
+that man's diabolical cruelties. And when at length he paid the
+penalty of his crime, I stood by my mistress, and saved her from a
+felon's grave. It was hard work, for everything was so cunningly laid
+that my mistress stood convicted from the very first. Perhaps Count
+Boris reckoned upon an untimely end. At any rate, all his servants,
+and the greater part of his tenantry, followed one another in the
+witness-box and gave him the character of a saint, whilst his wife was
+painted in the blackest colours. But for a little scheme of mine, she
+would have been convicted beyond the shadow of a doubt. Still, we are
+getting away from the point. I was going to prove to you how I knew
+that the Count had arranged for his daughter to be kidnapped before
+his death. Some time previous to his marriage one of his greatest
+friends was an English nobleman, called Lord Ravenspur. Quite by
+accident, a few months before the tragedy, I saw a letter which the
+Count had written to Lord Ravenspur imploring the latter to give him a
+secret interview at once. In that letter the most horrible charges
+were levelled against the Countess. But we need not go into those now.
+I managed to get hold of the reply to the letter, and I had no
+scruples in reading it. Mind you, I did not think then that there was
+a plot on foot to kidnap the child, and I was prevented from attending
+the interview owing to the cunning of the Count, and within a few
+weeks afterwards I had plenty of things to occupy my attention, so
+that those letters were forgotten. And so things went on for years,
+until I heard from the Countess again, and I found that she knew
+nothing of her child. Oh, I have made no secret of my feelings in that
+matter. I have spoken quite freely tonight."
+
+Silva paused for a moment, and wiped his heated face.
+
+"From that time forward," he went on, "I have devoted myself almost
+exclusively to my search for the child. It did not occur to me till
+comparatively recently that Lord Ravenspur had had anything to do with
+it. In fact, that nobleman's name had quite gone out of my mind. I
+heard him spoken of from time to time as a great artist. I am fond of
+pictures myself, and about three years ago I went into a private view
+in Bond Street, and there I saw a face which attracted my attention.
+It was the head of a young girl precisely what little Vera would have
+been by that time. The more I studied those features, the more
+convinced was I that here was the object of my search. And when I
+asked the name of the artist, I was told that it was none other than
+Lord Ravenspur.
+
+"Then it came upon me like a flash that my search was at an end. The
+recollection of those letters came to me; then I knew as plainly as
+possible that, at the instigation of the Count, Lord Ravenspur had
+taken the child away. Those two were in league together. But the one
+who still lives shall not escape his punishment. I will see to that."
+
+"But are you quite sure?" the countess asked eagerly. "Have you seen
+Vera? Does she live with Lord Ravenspur?
+
+"That I don't quite know," Silva said. "I have hung about the house; I
+was determined to find out things for myself without raising
+suspicions in the minds of the servants. I gradually discovered what
+the household consisted of. On and off for the last two years I have
+watched and waited, but I saw no sign of anybody resembling the girl
+of whom I was in search. And gradually I began to think that I had
+made a mistake. Business took me away to the North for some months,
+and when I came back again I put in a day or two more in Park Lane in
+the faint hope that I might be rewarded at last. And I was. At length
+I saw her. And now you know where your daughter is to be found if you
+want to see her again. I am perhaps wrong to tell you this----"
+
+"But where had she been?" the Countess exclaimed.
+
+"Ah, it is easy to be wise after the event," Silva said. "She had been
+at school on the Continent for the past three years, and that is why
+all my efforts ended in failure. I did not mean to tell you this. I
+meant to have kept it to myself as a punishment for your heartless
+conduct all these years. But I must own that your arguments impressed
+me. I can see now how the child would have reminded you of her father.
+And that is why I have said so much. But, at the same time, this thing
+has been an indignity to the family which I cannot overlook. Lord
+Ravenspur will have to pay the price of his audacity. Blood is thicker
+than water----"
+
+Silva appeared as if he would have said more. But he checked himself,
+and his words died away in low mutterings. In some respects it seemed
+to Mrs. Delahay that the man was sane enough. In other matters she was
+convinced that he was little better than a dangerous lunatic. Were
+they on the eve of another dreadful tragedy, she asked herself, or was
+this man merely uttering vapouring threats when he spoke in this
+fashion of Lord Ravenspur?
+
+"You will do nothing rash?" she said.
+
+A queer smile flickered about the corners of Silva's lips. His eyes
+were glittering like stars.
+
+"Oh, I will do nothing rash," he said significantly. "I have been
+brought up in the wrong school for that. When we South Italians take
+our vengeance, we strike and strike hard. But it is done in the dark,
+so that the right hand does not know what the left is doing. But we
+never forget, and we never forgive."
+
+Silva turned on his heel, and walked slowly and thoughtfully away. The
+Countess called for him to come back, but he took no heed. He might
+have been deaf to the sound of her voice.
+
+"It doesn't matter," she said; "at any rate, I shall know where to
+find him again. But are you not coming back with me?"
+
+"I think not," Mrs. Delahay said. "It is getting very late, and I must
+be returning to my hotel. But, if you like, I will come and see you
+again, only it must be stealthily and in the dark. You will quite see
+the advisability of our not being much together till this cruel
+mystery has been cleared up."
+
+They parted at the corner of the street, and Mrs. Delahay continued
+her way slowly, always keeping the figure of Silva in sight. An
+impulse to follow him had suddenly seized her, though she had said
+nothing of this to her sister. She recollected vividly enough now the
+words that had passed between Silva and Stevens as to Lord Ravenspur,
+and the things that were going to happen tonight. For all she knew to
+the contrary, she might be the means of preventing another tragedy.
+She felt almost sure of this presently as Silva turned into Park Lane,
+and pulled up before Lord Ravenspur's house.
+
+The street was quite deserted, so that the man had no great need for
+caution. He stood there just a moment longer; then coolly entered the
+garden by way of a side gate. Apparently he had come prepared for
+this. He let himself into the garden with a key. Very cautiously Maria
+Delahay followed. She noticed how dark the garden was, the shadows
+being all the more dense by reason of the blaze of light which came
+filtering through the glass dome of the studio. Though the glass was
+stained, and it was impossible to see through, the light inside was
+strong and steady.
+
+Half hidden behind a bush the watcher waited developments. Presently
+she heard Silva creep cautiously to the side of the studio. Then, a
+moment later, to her amazement, she saw that he was slowly climbing to
+the top of the dome, by means of one of the ribs in the roof. The man
+appeared to be as lithe and active as a cat. The smallest foothold
+seemed to suffice him. He made his way to the top of the dome, and
+Mrs. Delahay could see him peering in curiously. He stood just for a
+moment debating.
+
+There was no time for further hesitation. It was very late now.
+Probably all the household had gone to bed, and doubtless Lord
+Ravenspur was alone in the studio. She knew something of his habits
+from her husband. Without a moment's hesitation she flew back into the
+road, and ran to the front door of the house.
+
+She pressed the button of the bell. She could hear the ripple right
+through the house. It seemed to her as if no one was ever coming. Then
+presently there was the sound of a footstep inside, and the door was
+flung open by Walter Lance.
+
+"Not a moment," she gasped. "Get to the studio at once."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+THE WORTH OF A NAME.
+
+
+The great house in Park Lane was brilliantly lighted up, and
+passers-by asked themselves what distinguished company Lord Ravenspur
+was entertaining tonight. Inside the house the master of it all was
+counting the moments till he should be alone. He was only giving an
+informal dinner, but the guests numbered upwards of thirty all the
+same. And now they were disported all over the house. Ravenspur sat in
+the great hall, with its mosaic floor and wonderful marble pillars. It
+was one of the show places of London, the envy of many whose means
+were greater than Ravenspur's. The veiled lights shone through palm
+and fern. The sultry evening seemed to be rendered cooler by the
+murmur of the fountains. It was possible to sit there and see the fish
+darting hither and thither, so that the effect of being somewhat far
+away in the seclusion of the woods was complete. A tall, fair woman,
+marvellously attired, was languidly singing the praises of the place
+to her host.
+
+"There is nothing like it," she said. "It is absolutely unique. We
+have tried the same effect in America, but, somehow or another, it
+seems so artificial, so wanting in repose. You are the most fortunate
+of individuals, Lord Ravenspur."
+
+"So my friends tell me," Ravenspur smiled. "But you must not always
+judge by appearances."
+
+If his guest only knew, Ravenspur thought. If she could only guess
+what his feelings were at that moment. The beauty of the place had
+been a delight to him at one time. He had enjoyed the planning and
+building, but now he would have changed it for the meanest cottage, if
+only he could approach to peace and comfort thereby. The house seemed
+full of omens. Danger seemed to lurk everywhere. No doubt those banks
+of palms behind the water gave a charming effect to the hall, but,
+then, an assassin might have hidden behind them, for they afforded
+plenty of cover. The genial smile was still on Ravenspur's face. No
+one would have guessed the grey tenor of his thoughts. Even the pretty
+woman by his side had no idea how anxiously he was watching the clock
+in the gallery.
+
+Meanwhile, the guests flitted from place to place, and Ravenspur could
+hear the click of the balls in the billiard-room. Somebody was playing
+brilliant music in the drawing-room. Usually, Ravenspur's guests were
+loth to leave, and tonight was no exception to the rule; but
+presently they began to drift away, until, at length, Ravenspur was
+alone.
+
+He heaved a deep sigh of relief. He rose and turned in the direction
+of the studio. As he did so a slim, white figure came down the broad
+stairs, and Vera Rayne stood before him. She was looking her very best
+tonight. There was an extra dash of colour in her cheeks, a sparkle
+in her eyes. The look that Ravenspur turned upon her was half
+affectionate and half sad.
+
+"You did very well tonight," he said, "considering this is the first
+time you have done me the honour to act as hostess to my guests. You
+played your part quite to the manner born, Vera. We shall have no
+occasion to call in the services of Lady Ringmar any more. You will
+find yourself paragraphed in the papers now."
+
+Vera did not appear to be listening. Her beautiful face had a grave
+look upon it now. She hesitated for a moment before she spoke. There
+was no hurry about her words, but Ravenspur could not fail to see that
+she was palpably nervous.
+
+"It will not be for long, then," she said. "My dear guardian, can I
+have a few moments' conversation with you? It is not so very late, and
+one so seldom gets an opportunity."
+
+"How grave you are," Ravenspur smiled. "We will go as far as the
+library, if you like, and then I can smoke a cigar and listen to your
+weighty utterances. Come along."
+
+It was cosy enough in the library, and much more inviting of
+confidences than the stately splendour of the pillared hall. Ravenspur
+threw himself back in an armchair and lighted a cigar. Then he
+signified to Vera to proceed. Her lips were trembling now. Something
+bright and diamond-like twinkled under her lashes.
+
+"You have been very kind to me," she said unsteadily.
+
+"Have I really, my dear? Nothing out of the common, I am sure. And
+what have I done? Given you a good education and found you a
+comfortable home; and from first to last you have never caused me a
+moment's anxiety. I have become as fond of you as if you were my own
+child. It will be a genuine grief to me when the right man comes along
+and takes you away from here."
+
+"There is not much fear of that," Vera smiled wistfully. "Of course,
+you may think me ungrateful. You may say that I am showing a great
+deal of dissatisfaction----"
+
+"My dear girl, you are not dissatisfied, surely?"
+
+"I am afraid I am. You see, things cannot go on like this. I hate to
+have to talk in such a fashion, but the time has come when I must
+speak. All these years you have been showering benefits upon me. You
+have been treating me as if I were your own flesh and blood. The money
+alone that I must have cost you is enormous; and, so far as I know, I
+have not a penny."
+
+"You will have when I die," Ravenspur said lightly.
+
+"Oh, please don't talk like that; it makes my task all the more
+difficult. I have realised for a long time now that I cannot stay
+here, a dependant on your bounty. I can never feel sufficiently
+grateful for what you have done for me in the past. I could not
+possibly put my feelings into words; but I have made up my mind that I
+must get my own living in the future. It is a very hard thing to say,
+but I am going to leave you."
+
+"Did anybody ever hear anything so foolish?" Ravenspur cried. "Why,
+this is your home. Is it your fault that you are utterly incapable of
+getting your own living? When I brought you here--a child in arms--I
+gave your father a solemn assurance that you should be my own daughter
+in future. I have made provision for you in my will. Some day you
+will be rich, as things go. And now you talk of leaving me in this
+cold-blooded fashion. Don't you see that I cannot do without you? But
+let me try and touch that gratitude of which you spoke. Surely, after
+watching over you so carefully all these years, you are not going to
+leave me at the very moment when you can make something like an
+adequate return? You are practically mistress of the house now, and my
+welfare is entirely in your hands. Need I say any more after that?"
+
+"Oh, you try me sorely," Vera cried; "and yet my path is quite plain.
+Even at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I cannot remain here.
+And now I come to the point. Before I go I want you to tell me who I
+am, and who my parents are."
+
+"Yes; I think you have a right to know that," Ravenspur said
+thoughtfully; "but, if you don't mind, we will not go into that
+tonight. It is too late, and the story is too long. Believe me, you
+will be the happier for asking no questions. There is a dark tragedy
+behind your young life which is now forgotten, and I am perfectly sure
+you would bitterly regret it if you stirred the scandal up again. 'Let
+sleeping dogs lie,' Vera. Be content to know that you are of good
+family, and leave the rest alone."
+
+The girl's face grew a shade paler. Her eyes had a suggestion of pain
+in them as she turned to the speaker.
+
+"I think I understand," she murmured. "If my suspicions are correct,
+this is a great blow to me; but, having said so much, I think I must
+know the rest. And now, now you see how impossible it is that I can
+remain here much longer."
+
+Ravenspur was silent for a moment. He had forgotten the little scene
+which he had witnessed some time ago between Vera and Walter Lance. So
+that was why she was going. She had given her heart to Walter, and
+only too late she had discovered that a marriage between them was out
+of the question.
+
+The same subject was uppermost in Vera's mind. They were both looking
+at the same thing from a different point of view; and it seemed to
+Vera that if Ravenspur's words meant anything, it meant that she was
+not even entitled to the name she bore. Every drop of blood appeared
+to have left her heart. She stood there, white and breathless. Yet,
+amidst all her storm of thoughts, one dominant idea possessed her. The
+time had come to strike now. There must be no further delay. She must
+leave the house. She must go out into the world to get her own living.
+She would stay here no longer under these shameful conditions.
+
+"You have spared my feelings," she began. "I almost wish now that I
+had not asked you any of these---"
+
+Vera broke off abruptly as the door opened, and Walter Lance came into
+the room. He looked uneasy and anxious. He started to say something to
+Ravenspur, then he paused, as he saw that Vera was standing there. In
+spite of the girl's utter misery and dejection, she did not fail to
+see that she was in the way now.
+
+"I am just going," she said. "I am going as far as the drawing-room.
+When you have finished with your uncle I should like to have a few
+words with you, Walter."
+
+"You had much better go to bed," Ravenspur said, with a sudden stern
+inflection in his voice. "It is getting late, and I am sure that you
+must be tired, Vera."
+
+The girl made no reply. She walked through the door on the far side of
+the library and made her way into the drawing-room. Uncle and nephew
+stood there facing one another; they could hear the sound of Vera's
+piano softly played.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+THE NEXT MOVE.
+
+
+"Well, and what is it now?" Ravenspur asked. "You look as if you had
+seen a ghost. Is there anything new in this ghastly business? Have the
+police solved the problem?"
+
+"On the contrary, the problem gets more bewildering every hour,"
+Walter said. "As you know, I was going to talk over our side of the
+puzzle with Inspector Dallas, and he gave me some startling
+information. As soon as ever I mentioned the Flavio business he told
+me that he had made a discovery which connected it closely with the
+death of poor Louis Delahay. It appears that there is in England at
+the present moment an Italian detective, called Berti, who had the
+Flavio affair in hand."
+
+"I recollect the name perfectly well," Ravenspur murmured.
+
+"It appears that Berti has seen Mrs. Delahay since the inquest. He was
+rather interested in the affair, and he contrived to get a sight of
+Mrs. Delahay. And now comes the most extraordinary feature of the
+story. Berti is absolutely certain that Mrs. Delahay is no other than
+Carlotta, Countess Flavio."
+
+"Impossible," Ravenspur cried. "The man is mistaken."
+
+"He is prepared to swear to his statement, any way," Walter said.
+"And, after all, I don't see why it should be impossible. In fact it
+is not in the least impossible, and I'll tell you why. After this
+amazing thing came out I thought it my duty to go back to the hotel
+and see Mrs. Delahay. I told her what Berti said, and taxed her with
+being a principal in the Flavio tragedy."
+
+"And she denied it promptly, of course?"
+
+"She did. She told me quite calmly that she had never heard of the
+Flavio affair. I confess her words staggered me, because they were so
+calm and self-possessed. I watched her narrowly when I was speaking,
+and she never so much as changed colour. Even when I told her the
+story she appeared to be as mystified and puzzled as ever. She said,
+as she has always said, that for the best part of her life she has
+been more or less a recluse, and altogether out of touch with the
+world's happenings. You see, Berti was so confident, and Mrs. Delahay
+so self-possessed, that I was utterly puzzled."
+
+"There is nothing to be puzzled about," Ravenspur said. "The Italian
+detective has made a mistake. His recollections of Carlotta Flavio's
+features after eighteen years have become blurred. For goodness sake,
+don't let us harp upon this absurdity. Surely, there are enough
+complications without this!"
+
+"So I thought at first," Walter said. "But you will recollect telling
+me the story of your friend Count Flavio and his unhappy marriage.
+There were two Descartis--Carlotta, who married your friend, and
+Maria, who disappeared and was not heard of for years. Now isn't it
+rather significant, bearing in mind what Berti says, that Mrs.
+Delahay's name should be Maria?"
+
+Ravenspur looked up with a startled expression.
+
+"Well, yes," he exclaimed. "But I see you have more to tell me. Will
+you please go on?"
+
+"I am coming to the interesting part now," Walter said. "Though I was
+prepared to believe that Mrs. Delahay knew nothing of the Flavio
+affair, I was by no means satisfied. I felt that there must be
+something in the Italian's story. I was certain of it when Mrs.
+Delahay admitted that her maiden name was Descarti. Oh, please let me
+finish. It was Mrs. Delahay's sister Carlotta who was the wife of your
+friend the Count. Hence the very natural mistake made by Berti. He had
+not seen the Countess, but her sister. The strong likeness between
+them would account for the misunderstanding."
+
+"And this is really a fact?" Ravenspur cried. "Strange that it should
+not have come out before."
+
+"But why should it, my dear uncle? You say that you never saw Count
+Flavio's wife. You have not the slightest idea what she was like. All
+you know is that she was an exceedingly bad woman, and that you
+rescued her child from a questionable future. On the other hand, Maria
+Delahay is secluded from the world for eighteen years. She is told by
+her parents that her sister is dead. She knows nothing of the terrible
+Flavio scandal. This is a fact, because she told me so herself.
+Indeed, we had it all out. She has to come back to the world again
+when her parents die. She is compelled to get her own living. It is
+only natural that she should change her name, and there you are."
+
+Lord Ravenspur pondered over the matter for some time in silence.
+
+"You saw a great deal more of the Delahays than I did," he said.
+"Practically I have not seen them together at all. Now how do they
+strike you? I mean, before their marriage, did you think that the
+woman really cared anything for our poor friend?"
+
+"I am sure she did," Walter said emphatically. "Of course, there was
+no passionate attachment between them; they were too old for that. But
+I am quite certain that Maria Delahay's affection was sincere enough.
+After what I have seen the last day or two, I decline to believe that
+she had anything to do with her husband's death. I believed her when
+she said she never saw him from the time she left the hotel till she
+found him dead in the studio."
+
+"And that opens up another theory," Ravenspur exclaimed. "If it wasn't
+Maria Delahay the witness Stevens saw that night in Fitzjohn Square,
+then it must have been her sister Carlotta."
+
+"My word, that never occurred to me!" Walter cried. "And yet the
+solution is as simple as it is probable. I wonder if it is possible to
+obtain a photograph of the Countess?"
+
+"There were plenty of them published at the time of the trial,"
+Ravenspur said. "Of course, I mean in the illustrated papers. I have
+got the whole of them somewhere upstairs. Not that I pay much
+attention to newspaper photographs, as they are rarely any use. I'll
+go and see if I can find one."
+
+Ravenspur turned hurriedly and left the room. He was gone some
+considerable time, leaving Walter to stand there and ponder over the
+result of his night's adventure. The more he thought the matter over,
+the more complicated it became. He put the thing away from him almost
+petulantly. He was suddenly conscious of the fact that the music in
+the drawing-room was very soft and soothing. Then it flashed across
+him that Vera had something to say. Ravenspur might be a little time
+longer, and there was no opportunity like the present.
+
+Only a portion of the drawing-room lights were on, together with the
+piano candles, and Vera sat there half in the shadow, a pathetic
+looking figure enough, in her white dress. As Walter approached he
+could see that her face was very pale, and that her eyes showed signs
+of recent tears.
+
+"What is the matter?" he asked. "What fresh trouble is this?"
+
+Vera's hands fell away from the keys. She rose from her seat.
+
+"It is not altogether a fresh trouble," she murmured; "it is only the
+old one become more acute. Do you remember my telling you the other
+day that I felt how impossible it is for me to remain here any longer?
+But I must go away."
+
+"My dearest girl, why?" Walter asked. "You know perfectly well how
+much I care for you. You know perfectly well that you could not look
+me in the face and declare that you do not love me as well as I love
+you. Now, could you?"
+
+"That is what makes it all the harder," Vera whispered. "Oh, I am not
+going to prevaricate about it. We have always been good friends,
+Walter, and in the last few months I have realised that friendship has
+given way to a more tender attachment. Perhaps it was that which
+opened my eyes. Perhaps it was that that made me ask myself some
+questions. I felt quite sure that Lord Ravenspur had guessed nothing
+of our secret. In fact, it was a secret to me till one afternoon in
+this very room. . . ."
+
+"I am not likely to forget," Walter said tenderly.
+
+"Well, then, you see I began to think. No father could have been
+kinder to me than Lord Ravenspur. I owe him a debt that I can never
+repay. But, though he has taken me into his house, and brought me up
+as if I belonged to his own flesh and blood, it does not follow that
+he considers me good enough for his nephew, the future holder of the
+title. And when he did find out not long ago, I saw at once what a
+dreadful disappointment it was to him."
+
+"I am afraid it was," Walter said grudgingly. "But he did not set his
+face against it when I placed the thing before him in a proper light.
+He merely stipulated that our engagement must be a secret between us
+for the present. I am sure he is much too just a man, much too
+kind-hearted to spoil our happiness. You are too sensitive, Vera; your
+sense of honour is too high."
+
+The girl's lips quivered piteously.
+
+"Perhaps I am," she whispered. "But there is another thing which I
+have learned tonight, a thing which prevents me from remaining here
+an hour longer than is necessary. It is the question of my birth. I
+learned that tonight for the first time. Oh, do not humiliate me any
+further. Do not force me to speak any more plainly. If you knew the
+shameful story of my parents you would realise at once how unfitted I
+am to become----"
+
+The girl said no more. She covered her face with her hands, and burst
+into tears. As to Walter, he was too astonished to speak. In the tense
+silence that followed the hall bell rang violently again and again.
+Vera looked up swiftly.
+
+"You had better go yourself," she said. "It may be important." (She
+was deeply grateful for the interruption.) "Go yourself; everybody
+else is in bed."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+A BLOOD RELATION.
+
+
+Walter choked down an ugly word that rose to his lips. He resented the
+intrusion just at a moment when he particularly desired to be alone
+with Vera. Who was it, he wondered, who came so late? And who rang so
+imperiously and persistently for admission? He flung back bolt and
+chain, and opened the door. With her nerves all unstrung, and with a
+certain intuition of impending calamity upon her, Vera had followed
+him into the hall. She had dried her eyes now; she showed little sign
+of her recent agitation. She heard Walter's exclamation as he
+recognised the intruder.
+
+"Good heavens, it is Mrs. Delahay!" he cried. "What can you want here
+at this hour?"
+
+"The studio," Mrs. Delahay gasped. "Get to the studio at once. If your
+uncle should happen to be there----"
+
+"You can reassure yourself on that point," Walter said. "Lord
+Ravenspur is at present in his bedroom."
+
+Maria Delahay pressed her hand to her heart. She gave a little gasp of
+relief. She was too breathless to explain. All she needed now was a
+chair to support her failing limbs. As Walter stood there it flashed
+upon him that something wrong must be taking place in connection with
+the studio. He had not forgotten the vivid incident of the other
+night. Perhaps at this very moment the clue to the puzzle was in his
+hands. He turned round, and his gaze fell upon Vera, who was watching
+Mrs. Delahay curiously.
+
+"Take this lady into the drawing-room," he said, "and wait till I come
+back. I shan't be very long."
+
+Vera came forward with a sympathetic smile upon her face. A light was
+shining on her features. Maria Delahay could see how fair and sweet
+she was. And so this, she thought, was her sister's child. This was
+the girl from whom her mother had voluntarily separated herself for
+upwards of eighteen years. It seemed impossible, incredible to
+believe, but there it was. And the girl's hand was under Mrs.
+Delahay's arm now. She was being gently assisted as far as the
+drawing-room.
+
+"I am sure you are Mrs. Delahay," Vera said, in her most sympathetic
+voice. "If all had gone well we should have met before now. I cannot
+tell you how sorry I am for you. I do hope this dreadful mystery will
+be cleared up before long. And now can I get you anything? I suppose
+you came to see Lord Ravenspur?"
+
+Maria Delahay hesitated for a moment. There was no occasion to tell
+this beautiful child the dread import of her presence there. It seemed
+a wicked thing to bring her within the range of the trouble.
+
+"I should like to see Lord Ravenspur, yes," she said "So you are his
+ward, Vera Rayne? Really, I cannot see any likeness between you and
+your father."
+
+The words had slipped unconsciously from Maria Delahay's lips before
+she had time to think what she was saying. It was only when she noted
+the startled look in Vera's eyes that she realised the full extent of
+her imprudent speech.
+
+"Did you know my father?" Vera cried.
+
+"What am I saying!" Mrs. Delahay exclaimed. "My head is so dazed and
+confused that I don't know what I am talking about. Just for a moment
+I was filled with a foolish idea that you were Lord Ravenspur's
+daughter. It would be strange if you bore a likeness to him, seeing
+that he is only your guardian."
+
+Vera was silent for a moment. Mrs. Delahay's impetuous speech had
+filled her with misgivings. She did not know, she could not feel sure
+that, after all, Lord Ravenspur might stand in closer relationship to
+her than that of a guardian. But she put the trouble out of her mind
+now. She had other things to occupy her attention. And after all said
+and done, the poor creature by her side was in deeper grief and
+anxiety than herself.
+
+"I think I will go up and tell my guardian you are here," she said. "I
+know he will be glad to see you."
+
+Vera was spared the trouble, for at that moment Ravenspur came into
+the room with a bundle of papers in his hand. He started as he caught
+sight of Mrs. Delahay.
+
+"You here at this hour!" he exclaimed. "I hope----"
+
+"No; there is nothing particularly wrong," the woman said. "I should
+like a few words with you if I am not intruding."
+
+Vera discreetly left the room, and walked off towards the library.
+There was a stern expression on Ravenspur's face as he looked at his
+visitor. He waited for her to speak.
+
+"I daresay you will think this is rather singular of me," she
+faltered, "but I came here tonight because your life is in danger. I
+believe that the man called Luigi Silva is under your roof at the
+present moment. You know who I mean?"
+
+"I know perfectly well," Ravenspur replied. "It would be absurd to
+pretend to misunderstand you. And so it turns out after all that you
+are the sister of my poor friend Flavio's wife. Did Delahay know your
+identity before he married you?"
+
+"He knew all there was that was worth knowing," the woman said, a
+little defiantly. "He knew the story of my miserable youth, for
+instance. I don't want you to misunderstand me. I don't wish to
+pretend that I had any ardent passion for my husband. But my affection
+was deep and sincere, and my loss is almost more than I can bear. Oh,
+I know what you are going to say. You are going to ask what I know
+about that wretched Flavio affair. I repeat in all sincerity that I
+knew nothing till the other day. I did not even know that my sister
+was alive, not until I visited her tonight at her house in Isleworth
+Road. I was not aware that she had married Boris Flavio. I did not
+know that she had a child----"
+
+"Do you know who the child is?" Ravenspur asked swiftly.
+
+"Yes; I know _now_," was the significant reply. "I have just been
+talking to her. What a beautiful girl she is! How sweet and natural!
+How open and candid is her face! It seems almost incredible to me that
+my sister could have forgotten her child all these years. I could not
+have done so."
+
+"No; nor any other woman worthy of the name," Ravenspur said grimly.
+"But though you lived with your sister till early womanhood, you had
+no real conception of her character. I never met her myself, for which
+I am devoutly thankful. But I learnt enough, and more than enough, of
+her character from Flavio's letters to me. If ever a man was cursed
+with a fiend incarnate in the shape of a wife, Flavio was that man.
+Oh, I don't wish to give you pain, for you have suffered enough of
+late. But I know what I am talking about. The mere fact that you
+alluded to just now is proof positive that your sister is incapable of
+affection for her child. More or less by accident you have made this
+discovery tonight. By sheer chance you know that your sister's
+daughter is under my roof. For a long time past I have known that some
+agency has been at work to deprive me of the girl, an agency so
+utterly unscrupulous that my very life is in danger. I suppose that
+man is acting for your sister, who has a sudden whim to gain
+possession of her child once more. And now I am going to ask you a
+favour. You are to say nothing of what you have found out tonight. I
+have told you what your sister is, and no doubt my words will prove
+true before long. I am going to ask you to give me a solemn promise
+that----"
+
+"It is too late," Mrs. Delahay exclaimed. "Whatever my sister may be
+is all beside the point. She knows where her daughter is, and Luigi
+Silva knows also. He told us everything not long ago. I found out by
+accident that he was coming here. I saw him enter the house a few
+moments ago. I believe he is in your studio at the present moment.
+That is why I rang the bell so furiously; that is why I prayed I
+should not be too late."
+
+Ravenspur started violently.
+
+"Oh, this is intolerable," he cried. "One could hardly believe it
+possible that this is London in the twentieth century. I had thought
+that those insane vendettas had died out before this, even in Corsica.
+I must go at once and see----"
+
+As the speaker turned away Maria Delahay held out a detaining hand.
+Her face was pale and pleading.
+
+"Your life is too valuable to be risked in that headstrong fashion,"
+she said. "Besides, I have already warned your nephew, who appears to
+know everything. He went off to the studio at once. I have no doubt
+that he has scared Silva away by this time. But why don't you put this
+matter in the hands of the police? Why run this risk when a few words
+would prevent any danger? And there need be no scandal. Silva could be
+warned. He would have to leave the country, and then there would be an
+end----"
+
+"And this from you who are a half Corsican yourself," Ravenspur said
+reproachfully. "I could free myself from Silva, no doubt, but before
+many months had passed another man would take his place and my danger
+would be greater than ever. You see I have the advantage of knowing my
+present assailant. To quote the old saying. 'Better a devil you know
+than a devil you don't know.'"
+
+Maria Delahay had nothing to say in reply. She was turning the matter
+rapidly over in her mind. It seemed to her that she could see a way
+out of the difficulty.
+
+"I think," she began, "that perhaps----"
+
+The words were never finished, for suddenly the tense silence of the
+house was broken by a quick cry and the tinkling sound of broken
+glass. Then, in the distance somewhere, a door banged sullenly, and
+silence fell over the house once more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+BRED IN THE BONE.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Walter Lance had lost no time in reaching the studio. It
+did not need any elaborate explanation on the part of Maria Delahay
+for him to know that, in some way, the danger came from the man whom
+he knew as Valdo. Walter did not doubt that this was not the first
+time that the Corsican had visited the studio, though, as yet, he was
+utterly unable to grasp how it was that the attempt had been so
+successful.
+
+There was danger here, and Walter knew it perfectly well, but he was
+too filled with indignation to think of anything else. So far as he
+could see, nothing had as yet taken place. The studio was absolutely
+empty, and the full blaze of the electric lights disclosed no danger.
+
+Watching eyes were probably not far off, and it behooved Walter to be
+circumspect. He whistled an air. He strolled from place to place, ever
+and again glancing upwards to the roof. He felt quite convinced that
+it was the roof from which danger threatened, but there was nothing to
+be seen, no sign of movement in the branches of the acacia.
+
+Still, the miscreant must be near at hand. He might even be watching
+the solitary occupant of the studio at that moment. Walter made up his
+mind what to do. He switched off all the lights and shut the door of
+the studio, at the same time affecting to turn the key in the lock. If
+Valdo were hiding close at hand, he would take this for an indication
+that the studio was locked and closed for the night.
+
+This being done, Walter crept back again and took up a position at the
+foot of an acacia. If Valdo entered the studio at all he was bound to
+come that way. Doubtless he had made his way over the roof, and
+presently it would be an easy matter to flutter from the dome on to
+the top of the acacia. Such a plan as this would present no
+difficulties to the flying man. Therefore, Walter braced himself for
+the effort which would be required of him presently.
+
+He had not much doubt as to the issue. From the point of physical
+strength he was a match and more than a match for the Italian. There
+was just the chance that the latter might make use of his knife, but
+that had to be risked. A quarter of an hour passed slowly, and Walter
+was beginning to get impatient. What he most feared now was that Lord
+Ravenspur might return and demand to know why the studio was in
+darkness. This would probably have the effect of scaring Valdo away,
+and Walter would have all his trouble for his pains.
+
+The minutes passed along, and no one came; but at length Walter's
+patience was rewarded. He heard a slight swish and sway in the
+branches of the acacia overhead. He could hear deep and regular
+breathing coming nearer and nearer to him. Then, presently, in the
+darkness, he discerned the lithe figure of the Italian. A moment
+later, and the intruder was caught below the elbows in a grip that
+made him fairly grunt again. He struggled just for a moment, but the
+steady grip seemed to crush the life out of him, and he desisted.
+Walter bore him back until his left hand shot out, and the whole
+studio was bathed in flame once more. Before Valdo could realise
+what had really happened, Walter's hands were all over him in a
+search for weapons. Nothing more dangerous come to light than a small
+sheath-knife, which Walter swept into his pocket. He was quite calm
+and self-possessed now. He coolly indicated a chair, into which Valdo
+flung himself sullenly.
+
+"Now I should like to have a little conversation with you," he said.
+"You will recollect that we have met before."
+
+"I have not forgotten the fact," Luigi Silva said sullenly. "It was at
+the Imperial Palace Theatre."
+
+"Quite correct," Walter said. "I came to see that remarkable
+performance of yours. I was very much interested, and I must
+congratulate you warmly. At the same time, it seems to me that yours
+is a dangerous kind of entertainment."
+
+A contemptuous smile flickered over Silva's face. "There is no danger
+whatever," he murmured; "anybody could do it if they had arms like
+mine."
+
+"I am afraid you don't quite take my meaning," Walter murmured. "There
+are some cigarettes by your elbow. You had better help yourself,
+especially as I am likely to detain you some time."
+
+With a defiant air the Italian took and lighted a cigarette. He did
+not appear in the least unnerved, though the furtive glances which he
+occasionally turned in the direction of his captor showed that his
+mind was not altogether at ease. He would have given much to know what
+Lance was driving at. He did not like to see the other quite so sure
+of his ground.
+
+"My time is my own," he said. "Go on."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardon, your time is mine. But I dare say you will
+wonder why I am detaining you like this. To tell you the truth, since
+your last visit here----"
+
+"That is not true," Silva cried. "I have never been here before!"
+
+"Why play with me?" Walter asked contemptuously. "It is some days
+since you were here last. To refresh your memory, I am alluding to the
+night when you came here by way of the ventilator in the dome, and
+made a murderous attack upon my uncle, who owes his life to the fact
+that I was not very far away. It is no use your denying this, because
+I am in a position to prove it. I dare say you congratulated yourself
+upon the fact that you got clear away. You would chuckle to think how
+mystified we all were. Here is a murderous onslaught made upon a
+public man in his own studio, from which there is no exit but the
+door; and on the night of the strange affair the door was locked. No
+one but a bird could have escaped through the ventilator. You can
+picture to yourself what a sensation the business would have caused if
+the police had been called in and the affair made known to the Press.
+Now I dare say you wonder why the police were not called in at once?"
+
+Silva pulled at his cigarette savagely, but made no reply.
+
+"Well, I am going to be more polite than you are," Walter said; "and I
+am going to tell you. I had a fancy to play the detective myself. I
+looked around for some sort of a clue, and at length I found one. Ah,
+I see you are interested."
+
+"Only in my own safety," Silva muttered.
+
+"Well, that is the same thing. On the floor close by where you are
+seated I found a shabby yellow playbill, advertising the performance
+of Valdo, the flying man, at the Imperial Palace Theatre. The bill was
+neatly folded, and was of recent date. Now I know perfectly well that
+neither Lord Ravenspur nor any of his friends would be interested in
+that kind of thing. Therefore, how did the bill get here? Probably
+left by the flying man himself, and a flying man would be the only
+kind of human being capable of getting in and out of this studio in
+that mysterious fashion. Upon this, I made up my mind to come and see
+you, and I did. I have only to place this information, together with
+my testimony, in the hands of the police. Indeed, I have only to send
+for a constable now and give you into custody. After that you would
+not be likely to give us any cause for anxiety the next seven years."
+
+The Italian's eyes gleamed as he glanced restlessly about him. There
+was no reason for Walter to ask himself if his prisoner understood.
+Silva shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"That is what you are going to do?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, we'll come to that presently. In the meantime, I want a little
+information. You will remember when we were talking to you in the
+manager's room at the Imperial, a lady came in and addressed a few
+words to you. She was only there for a moment, but she stayed quite
+long enough for me to recognise her features. I want to know what Mrs.
+Delahay needed to see you for."
+
+A sharp laugh broke from Silva's lips.
+
+"You are very clever," he sneered. "Oh, so clever. So you are
+interested in Mrs. Delahay? You think, perhaps, that I know a deal
+about the murder of her husband. I know less about it than you do, and
+I have no concern with her at all. You had better ask her. She will
+probably be astonished----"
+
+"Ah, I see what you mean," Walter exclaimed. "It was stupid of me not
+to grasp the problem sooner. Of course, it was not Mrs. Delahay at all
+I saw with you, but her sister, Countess Flavio."
+
+Something like an oath broke from Silva's lips.
+
+"Thank you very much," Walter said. "You could not tell me any more if
+you were ever so candid. And now I know exactly what brings you here.
+It is not robbery----"
+
+"Robbery!" Silva broke out vehemently. "Sir, your words are a deadly
+insult. I am an honest man, though I may only be a servant; I would
+scorn to touch what does not belong to me."
+
+"In that case you came here for violence, then," Walter said. "Yours
+must be a strangely illogical mind. You would not soil your hands with
+another man's money, but you would not hesitate to stab him in the
+back under cover of the darkness. Come, don't let us argue any longer.
+You came here the other night to murder my uncle. But for a fortunate
+chance, Lord Ravenspur would be in his grave now. It is useless to
+deny it."
+
+"Have I made any attempt to deny it?" Silva said, in a voice that was
+utterly devoid of passion. "Have I lied to you in any way? Oh, I see
+there is no mercy in your face, and doubtless if our positions were
+reversed, I should act as you are acting tonight. You are going to
+hand me over to the authorities. I shall be no worse treated if I tell
+the truth. I did come here to take Lord Ravenspur's life. I am only
+sorry that I failed."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+A FAITHFUL SERVANT.
+
+
+The words were uttered with a grim coldness that caused Walter to
+shiver. This was worse than any outbreak of fury, worse than homicidal
+mania in its most acute form. The man was sane enough beyond all
+doubt, but, at the same time, he was a fanatic, prepared to gratify
+his vengeance, even if his own life paid the penalty.
+
+"Well, that is candid, at any rate," Walter said. "You came here
+prepared to take my uncle's life. It was the second attempt that you
+made upon it. Oh, you know what I mean. You mistook a guest who was
+coming here for Lord Ravenspur."
+
+"That was a mistake," Silva said coolly. "It was a mistake that I
+realised just in time. I should have greatly regretted any harm
+happening to an innocent party."
+
+"I suppose it would have quite upset you," Walter said sarcastically.
+"But we are wandering from the point. What is the grudge you have
+against my uncle? You have never even seen him till quite lately. He
+has been an utter stranger to you."
+
+A contemptuous smile flickered over Silva's face.
+
+"I don't suppose I shall be able to make you understand," he said.
+"Your race is different to mine. The blood in your veins flows much
+slower and colder. You have no traditions in this country which are
+part of your religion. You cannot comprehend that it is one's duty to
+avenge insult and outrage, even at the cost of a life. In my part of
+the world a man would be held a coward who hesitated to retrieve his
+honour in such a fashion. But in this case it was not my honour, but
+the honour of the noble house to which I belonged. It would have been
+bad enough if the thing had been done by one of my own countrymen, but
+a stranger, like Lord Ravenspur----"
+
+"I fail to see the distinction," Walter murmured.
+
+"Ah, that is because you cannot understand. Look you here, signor. I
+have a mistress to whom I am devotedly attached. I would lay down my
+life for her. I would do anything to shield her from pain. Let us say
+that my mistress is married to a man who outwardly possesses all the
+graces that Nature can bestow. He has the intellectual gifts, too. He
+is widely beloved and popular wherever he goes. But at heart he is a
+fiend. The refined cruelties which he uses towards his wife arouse
+revengeful feelings in my breast, though I dare not gratify them, in
+case I perish, and leave my beloved mistress in a worse case than
+ever. But there are others of my clan also serving the noble house
+from which my mistress came, and they write the Count _the letter_.
+You don't know what that means, and I am not going to tell you. But it
+is the death-warrant, and the Count knows it. He cannot appeal against
+that. All the forces of the Crown cannot save his life. And then,
+mysteriously, he dies. But he does not die before he has done one last
+piece of irreparable mischief. He sees a way to strike his wife to the
+heart from the other side of the grave. There is a child, perhaps the
+only thing on earth that the Count loves purely and sincerely. He gets
+his friend, Lord Ravenspur, to kidnap that child. I tell you if his
+lordship had come amongst us and dishonoured the threshold of the
+greatest chief in South Italy he could not have unlocked the
+floodgates of vengeance in a more thorough manner. Think of the
+degradation, the bitter insult of it all! If the true facts of the
+case had been known to me at the time, Lord Ravenspur would have been
+a dead man years ago. But when my mistress vanished from the world, I
+naturally thought that she had taken the child with her. I did not
+know until quite recently what had happened. Then when I cast my mind
+back to the past I had no difficulty in fixing upon Lord Ravenspur as
+the culprit. The rest you know."
+
+The words were quietly and evenly spoken, but the deep ring of
+sincerity in them was not lost upon Walter Lance. Here was a man who
+saw his way clearly before him, a man blinded by prejudice and
+bigotry, who would not hesitate for a single moment, who would laugh
+contemptuously at the mere suggestion of personal danger.
+
+"What could you do afterwards?" Walter urged.
+
+Silva shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
+
+"Why go into that?" he said. "The honour of the house would be
+avenged. I should have done my duty, and have earned the approbation
+of my friends. There would be a great outcry, no doubt. The thing
+would be inquired into, and probably the child I speak of would have
+been restored to her mother, though, to be sure, I am not quite
+certain whether the Countess is a proper person----"
+
+"So you have your doubts on that score?" Walter cried eagerly. "Now is
+it not a fact that the Countess Flavio was notoriously a woman of evil
+disposition?"
+
+"Everybody said so," Silva replied. "Had I chosen, I might have thrown
+a different light upon it. Mind you, I am not pleased with my late
+mistress; but there were excuses plausible enough. I cannot forget
+that it was a horrible thing for a mother to go off and leave her only
+child all those years. Still, that is no matter. If the time ever
+came, I could show the world something which would open their eyes as
+to the doings in his lifetime of Count Flavio. He kept a diary. After
+his death I found that diary."
+
+"And you did not produce it at the trial?"
+
+"To what good, signor? Popular prejudice was so strong against us
+that, beyond doubt, the prosecution would have proved that diary to be
+a forgery. Then I should have been cast into prison, and my mistress
+would have been deprived of the one protector whom she so sorely
+needed. Why, feeling ran so high at the time of the trial that it was
+dangerous for me to walk the streets alone at night. But why discuss
+this now? Why continue this unnecessary conversation? You have made up
+your mind what to do. You have only to ring the bell, and there is an
+end of me----"
+
+Silva paused and shrugged his shoulders significantly. He rose as if
+to take another cigarette. The box slipped from his hand, and some of
+the little white tubes rolled across the polished floor. With an
+apology for his clumsiness, he stooped to pick them up. Then he rose
+again, his right hand shot out in the direction of a figure in armour,
+grasping a huge battle-axe in its hand. With the swiftness of an
+animal, the battle-axe was snatched away, and before Walter could
+realise what had happened, the Italian had smashed a couple of the
+heavy plate-glass sheets, thus clearing a way into the garden. Walter
+yelled at the top of his voice and darted forward, but he was too
+late. He realised the folly of a search in the darkness. No doubt, by
+this time the man was far away. He opened the studio door, which
+closed suddenly behind him, owing to a draught which came streaming
+through the broken panes. He saw Lord Ravenspur standing before him in
+the corridor, with a white face and agitated manner.
+
+"What is it, Walter?" the latter asked hoarsely.
+
+"I'll tell you presently," Walter said. "Only you must get the
+women-kind away first. It is quite imperative that Vera should know
+nothing, though it doesn't in the least matter in Mrs. Delahay's case.
+She knows all about it."
+
+Mrs. Delahay, followed by Vera, was in the corridor by this time. The
+girl's face was pale. There was an inquiring look in her eyes.
+
+"It is really nothing," Walter said. "Just a little accident on the
+polished floor of the studio. One of the servants will have to sleep
+in there tonight in case of intruders. It is a great pity we haven't
+got one of the dogs from uncle's place in Hampshire."
+
+"It is terribly late," Mrs. Delahay exclaimed, with a significant
+glance in Walter's direction. "Really, I ought to be back at my hotel
+long ago. I suppose I can find a cab?"
+
+"I will go and find one for you," Walter said. "Hadn't you better go
+to bed, Vera? Don't forget that you are likely to be up very late
+tomorrow night."
+
+Very few words sufficed to tell Mrs. Delahay what had happened.
+
+Walter saw her into a cab, after which he returned to the house. He
+was relieved to find that Vera had already retired. Lord Ravenspur was
+walking moodily up and down the library.
+
+"One of the grooms is going to sleep in the studio," he said. "We can
+get the damage repaired tomorrow. And now tell me everything. I am
+certain that you have something unpleasant to disclose."
+
+Walter told his story at some length. Lord Ravenspur followed with
+every sign of interest.
+
+"Oh, I can quite understand that man's point of view," he said. "You
+see, I know something about those people. When I was quite a young man
+I spent a year or two in Corsica, and, to a certain extent, I
+sympathise with them. I have committed an outrage on the national
+honour, and I am to pay the penalty with my life. The thing is
+recognised out there. It is regarded as quite commonplace."
+
+"And there is no way of clearing yourself?" Walter asked.
+
+"Well, perhaps there is one," Ravenspur said thoughtfully. "You see,
+the head of the family can interfere. Vera's mother is in a position
+to say---- But what am I talking about? My dear boy, my life is in
+danger, and I am afraid that even if we lay Silva by the heels there
+will be others. But, come what may, I am going to ask for no clemency.
+Come what may, Vera shall never pass into the custody of that vile
+woman whom she has the misfortune to call her mother. Nothing shall
+induce me to change my mind. Indeed, such a thing would be a violation
+of my promise to the dead."
+
+"Your sentiments do you honour," Walter said; "but, unhappily, I don't
+see how you can carry them out."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+FLIGHT!
+
+
+It was a long time before Lord Ravenspur replied. He paced up and down
+the studio immersed in his own gloomy thoughts. Then gradually his
+face cleared, his eyes flashed with resolution.
+
+"I begin to see my way," he said. "It is not for my sake, but that of
+the child. I hope you will believe me when I say I am no coward. If it
+were six months hence I could laugh at the danger, because, whatever
+happened to me, I should have succeeded in my purpose. In six months'
+time Vera will be of age. At the expiration of that period she can
+become a naturalized British subject. Then the Crown will look after
+her interests, and see that the estates which she will some day
+inherit are properly administered. Six months hence Vera will be her
+own mistress. She has already been informed what her mother is like,
+and she will know how to behave towards that woman. It will be a
+satisfaction for me to know that we have baffled those bloodthirsty
+wretches after all."
+
+"And in the meantime?" Walter asked. "Don't you think we should have
+Silva arrested, so that at any rate we should be safe as far as he is
+concerned? We could easily find him."
+
+"I don't think so," Ravenspur said, thoughtfully. "I know my enemy by
+sight, which you will admit is a very great advantage. If another
+assassin comes along, he will have a tremendous pull over me. Besides,
+you made a suggestion just now which gave me a brilliant idea. You
+said that it was a pity we hadn't got the dogs here. We will have a
+couple of bloodhounds up the first thing in the morning, and one of
+them shall sleep in my bedroom, the other in the studio. The hounds
+are not in the least dangerous to those who know them. But I pity the
+midnight intruder who comes along and gets introduced to one of them.
+That will be one way of protecting myself for a time, and it will give
+the scoundrels something to do to devise fresh means of putting an end
+to me. I have thought it all out, and the best thing we can do is to
+disappear."
+
+"Disappear!" Walter cried. "What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean exactly what I say. The thing can be done tomorrow night.
+There is nothing easier."
+
+"But tomorrow night we are going to Lady Ringmar's great reception,"
+Walter urged. "I understand that it is to be one of the biggest things
+of the season, and I know that Vera is looking forward to it with the
+greatest possible pleasure."
+
+"Well, we can go," Ravenspur said, a trifle impatiently. "Now my
+scheme is this: we go to Lady Ringmar's, and stay there till about two
+o'clock in the morning. We take certain wraps with us, and we leave
+the house, not in one of the carriages, but in a hired fly which will
+subsequently take us to Waterloo Station. By special train we will go
+down to Weymouth, and at that point hire a yacht to convey us to
+Jersey. There we shall be able to stay a few days, and settle our
+plans. The servants can easily get all we want together early tomorrow
+morning, and send the bags down to Weymouth as luggage in advance. The
+next day the papers will contain the information that Lord Ravenspur
+has suddenly been attacked with a mysterious illness, and that he has
+been ordered to leave London at once. As perfect rest and quietness
+are prescribed, he is keeping his address a secret, and has given
+strict orders that no communication of any kind is to be forwarded.
+Even the servants in Park Lane will profess not to know where we have
+gone, which will be nothing less than the truth. How does the idea
+strike you?"
+
+Walter murmured something in reply. As a matter of fact, he was not in
+the least in love with the scheme, though Lord Ravenspur appeared to
+be so eager and happy about it, that he had not the heart to throw
+cold water on the programme. From his more youthful point of view, the
+idea of flight seemed cowardly. He would have placed the matter in the
+hands of the police. He would not have shrunk from the utmost
+publicity. But still, there was Vera to be considered. The girl's
+future was of the first importance.
+
+"Very well," he said, "I will give up my time tomorrow to getting
+ready. I suppose now that you won't want me to telegraph to the
+Hampshire place for the dogs?"
+
+"Oh, I think you had better," Ravenspur said. "One never knows what
+may turn up. And there is always the chance of the secret being
+discovered. And now let us go to bed, and try to get some sleep. I
+haven't had a night's rest for a week. I am longing to find myself on
+board a yacht again. I shall be safe there at all events. Good-night,
+my boy."
+
+It was after lunch the following day that Vera came into the
+billiard-room in search of Walter. The latter had practically finished
+his preparations. He had done everything that his uncle had entrusted
+to him, and there was nothing now but to wait the turn of events. In a
+well-regulated establishment like that of Lord Ravenspur's, everything
+had proceeded smoothly enough. By luncheon time the whole of the boxes
+and portmanteaux had been packed, and the luggage despatched. Still,
+there was a perplexed look in Vera's eyes as she came into the
+billiard-room.
+
+"I have been looking for you everywhere, Walter," she said. "I want to
+know what is the meaning of all this mystery. I have seen enough
+baggage leave the house to supply us with all we want for a season in
+Scotland. When I asked my maid what she was doing, she simply said
+that she had been instructed by the housekeeper to get my things
+ready. Of course, I raised no objection, but I should certainly like
+to know what it all means."
+
+Walter looked a trifle embarrassed. He had quite forgotten that Vera
+might show a natural curiosity.
+
+"We are going away for a little time," he explained. "The fact of the
+matter is, your guardian has not been at all well lately. But you must
+have noticed that for yourself. He has had a great deal to try him,
+too, and he is afraid of a breakdown. We are going to Weymouth direct
+from Lord Ringmar's House, and not a soul is to know anything about
+it. You see, if we stay and make elaborate preparations, it will take
+quite a week to make a start. It is far better to let people know
+afterwards that Lord Ravenspur has been ordered away peremptorily, and
+that he is to have perfect rest for the next month or so. Only I can't
+sufficiently impress upon you the necessity of keeping this thing
+absolutely secret."
+
+"Even from Lady Ringmar?" Vera cried.
+
+"From everybody," Walter said, somewhat sternly. "Vera, your guardian
+is in great danger. You are in great danger yourself. I dare not tell
+you more now, but perhaps I shall be permitted to say it later on. Go
+about your business or pleasure today just as if nothing had
+happened."
+
+Vera asked no further questions. She was perhaps just a little hurt
+that Walter had refused to take her into his confidence. At the same
+time, she was young and vigorous, and the thought of a change was not
+displeasing. She passed out of the house presently with a view to a
+walk in the park. She stopped before a feeble, blind old man who was
+dolefully grinding out hymns on a dilapidated organ. A boy of some ten
+or twelve years was guiding the unfortunate man along the pavement.
+Vera took out her purse, and placed a shilling in the little tin cup
+which the boy was carrying.
+
+"I have not seen you here before," she said kindly.
+
+The man murmured something to the effect that this was his first day
+with the organ. He seemed uneasy and undecided in his manner, and,
+naturally enough, Vera put this down to the strangeness of his
+surroundings. Then she hastened on to the park, and the little
+incident passed from her mind. She had tea subsequently with a friend
+in Grosvenor Square, and when she came back, barely in time to dress
+for dinner, she saw that the blind man was still in the Lane, grinding
+industriously at his melancholy airs.
+
+"I suppose Walter has told you," Ravenspur said as they sat down to
+dinner. "You know where we are going?"
+
+"He told me part," Vera said. "Really, I don't quite understand what
+all this mystery means."
+
+"Indeed, it is absolutely necessary," Ravenspur said gravely. "It is
+as necessary for your happiness as it is for mine. I have done my best
+to safeguard your welfare----"
+
+"Oh, yes, yes," Vera cried contritely. "I am a most ungrateful girl to
+speak in that way. After all, I am looking forward to the trip. It is
+probably the last happy time we shall have together. Yes; I have quite
+made up my mind to get my own living. But we won't discuss that
+tonight."
+
+Dinner was over at length and the carriage was ordered round. Vera
+came downstairs presently; her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were
+sparkling. She was very alluring and attractive in her white dress.
+She had made up her mind to be absolutely happy tonight. The dress
+was a special present from Lord Ravenspur, and Vera had been afraid to
+ask what the Paris house had charged for it. Still, it was the last
+extravagance she was going to put Lord Ravenspur to.
+
+"I declare there is my old blind man still," she said, as she got into
+the carriage. "He must have been here all day. I must make inquiries,
+and see what I can do for him."
+
+The door of the carriage was banged to, and the horses trotted away.
+As they passed the spot where the blind man was standing he suddenly
+ceased his doleful airs and whistled softly. A moment later and a
+shabby figure came shuffling down the Lane.
+
+"That's right, Stevens," the blind man said in a quick, clear voice.
+"Now here's the note, and, mind, you are not to deliver it before
+half-past twelve. This is most important. If you are successful, come
+back to me at the appointed spot, and I will see that you get your
+money--fifty pounds."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+VERA'S WARNING.
+
+
+Amongst her many friends, and in the keen enjoyment of the evening,
+Vera forgot her fears. She was young enough to appreciate to the full
+the joys of life. She was strong and vigorous, and most things pleased
+her. Besides, there was always the reflection that the gates would be
+closed to her before long. Once she had taken her fate in her own
+hands, and had gone into the world to get her living, there would be
+no more of this. A little longer and she would say goodbye to Lord
+Ravenspur and Walter. Of course, the wrench would be a bitter one, for
+she was by no means blind to the hardships and privations of the poor.
+
+Still, she put that out of her mind now. She was going to have a very
+pleasant evening, and by this time tomorrow she would be far away from
+the heat and dust and bustle of London. In her mind's eye she could
+see the yacht sliding over the water. She could see the moon shining
+on the waves, and turning their crests to molten silver.
+
+The big house was crowded to its utmost capacity, for Lady Ringmar was
+one of the most prominent of society women, and invitations to her
+entertainments were eagerly sought after. The rooms were filled. At
+the end of the long corridor Vera caught a peep of the garden, all
+aglow with points of flame from the electric lights entwined about the
+trees and shrubs.
+
+An hour or so passed pleasantly enough; then, as the heat grew more
+intense Vera's mind turned to the garden. There were huge blocks of
+ice, looking deliciously cool, behind banks of ferns. The air hummed
+with the noise of electric fans, and yet the atmosphere was heavy and
+enervating. Supper was a thing of the past, and Vera stood at the head
+of a flight of marble steps, which led to the garden. She was quite
+alone. She was looking for Walter, whom she had not seen for some
+little time. She turned with a smile as someone murmured her name. She
+saw that it was Ravenspur's friend, Sir James Seton, who was standing
+by her side.
+
+"So you are all alone," he said. "What are those young men thinking
+about? It was very different in my day."
+
+Vera smiled somewhat faintly. She had every respect for Sir James. He
+was kindly disposed enough, but in the eyes of youth he was regarded
+as something of a bore. There was no help for it when he suggested a
+turn in the garden.
+
+"Certainly," Vera murmured; "only I don't want to walk far. I have
+enjoyed my first season in town immensely, but I am beginning to long
+for the fresh air in the country again."
+
+"Quite right," Sir James agreed; "just the same with me. Why people
+box themselves up in London during the most beautiful months in the
+year I can't imagine. They talk about England being a decadent
+country! A man wants a real stamina to struggle through the three
+months which we call the season. Some of these men are a perfect
+marvel to me. Take Ravenspur, for example. That man works as hard as
+any man in England. He is here, there, and everywhere, and yet he
+finds plenty of time for this sort of thing, too. If there is anybody
+I envy, it is Ravenspur."
+
+"I am sure you have no need to envy anybody," Vera laughed. "Besides,
+in many ways you are very like him. Most people see a strong
+resemblance between you two."
+
+Sir James chuckled as if well pleased with the compliment.
+
+"Do you really think so?" he asked eagerly. "Well, I suppose what
+everybody says is bound to be true. At the same time, these
+resemblances are not always desirable. For instance, look what
+happened to me only the other day."
+
+"And what was that?" Vera asked.
+
+"Don't you know? It was the last time I dined with your guardian.
+Didn't they tell you about it? It reminded me of the days when I was a
+soldier--quite an adventure, too, I assure you. I was coming up Cheyne
+Row, more or less in the darkness, when a man darted out of the
+shadows, and attacked me. I had some difficulty in beating him off. I
+don't know whether the man was mad or not, but his intentions were
+quite serious."
+
+"Really!" Vera exclaimed, with widely opened eyes. "And what became of
+the man? Was he locked up?"
+
+"Oh, he got away before I could do anything. Still, it was very
+unpleasant while it lasted, I assure you."
+
+"It must have been," Vera said thoughtfully. "But, my dear Sir James,
+I don't quite understand what this adventure has to do with your
+likeness to Lord Ravenspur."
+
+"Oh, well, I had almost forgotten that. You see, when the fellow
+rushed at me, he addressed me as Ravenspur, just as the hero of the
+melodrama addresses the villain when he is caught in the last act.
+There is not the slightest doubt that I was mistaken for your
+guardian. Indeed, as soon as the man realised his mistake, he drew off
+at once. I am rather surprised they did not tell you."
+
+Vera was listening uneasily enough now. In the ordinary course of
+events she would have heard all about that mysterious occurrence. Why
+had they kept the knowledge from her? As she sat there thinking the
+matter over, she began in her mind to piece events together. So this
+sudden flight from London was dictated by personal fear on the part of
+Lord Ravenspur. He wanted to get away from this relentless foe. There
+was no other way to safeguard himself than by this yachting cruise.
+And hitherto Vera had never detected in her guardian the slightest
+sign of nervousness or fear. This foe, then, must be a man of
+extraordinary determination and tenacity of purpose.
+
+Vera could see it all more clearly now. She recollected the
+disturbance in the conservatory on the night of Sir James Seton's
+visit to Park Lane. She recollected with even more significant force
+the cries and the shattering of glass in the conservatory the previous
+evening. And why, for the first time in his life, had Lord Ravenspur
+caused the bloodhounds to be brought up from Hampshire? All these
+questions Vera asked herself, but she could think of no reply. In some
+vague way her woman's instinct told her that she was mixed up in the
+business. If so, it would never do for her to desert Lord Ravenspur at
+this critical moment. She would have to stay by him until the danger
+was past.
+
+She sat there replying to the chattering remarks of her companion at
+random, until even he saw how preoccupied she was.
+
+"I am afraid you are not quite yourself tonight," he said.
+
+"I am sure I beg your pardon," Vera murmured. "I am not quite myself.
+I wish you would do me a favour, Sir James. Would you mind finding
+Walter and sending him to me?"
+
+Sir James trotted off obediently enough, and presently Walter came
+along. He looked somewhat warm and heated.
+
+"I am sorry I couldn't find you before," he said. "We have been having
+a bit of fun in the drawing-room. It was rather a nuisance, too. What
+do you think happened? But you will never guess. One of the dogs got
+away and actually followed us here. I found three or four ladies held
+up by one of the brutes in a drawing-room. They were frightened to
+death, not knowing what a peaceful creature poor Bruno is in the
+ordinary way. I had to lead him away and tie him up to one of the
+trees in the shrubbery."
+
+Vera smiled as she thought of the terror which the great hound would
+naturally inspire. No doubt he had managed to get away from Park Lane
+and had tracked them to Lady Ringmar's house.
+
+"He will be quite quiet where he is," she said, "and we can take him
+with us when we go. I shall be glad to get away. I am longing to leave
+London behind me now."
+
+Walter looked anxiously at his companion. He saw how pale and
+disturbed she was, how distressed her features were.
+
+"What is the matter?" he asked tenderly.
+
+"I was going to tell you," Vera replied. "I have had a considerable
+shock tonight. I have learnt something which you tried to conceal from
+me. Oh, I am not blaming you, because I am sure you only acted for the
+best, but I have just been having a conversation with Sir James Seton,
+and he was telling me all about the attack that was made on him the
+other night when he came to dine with us. I was dreadfully grieved to
+hear what he had to say."
+
+"But, my dear girl," Walter protested, "really----"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know. You are thinking about me now," Vera said. "But it
+is rather too late. That murderous attack was made upon Sir James
+Seton because the miscreant mistook him for Lord Ravenspur. There can
+be no doubt about it, because Sir James told me so. And when I heard
+that, other strange circumstances flashed into my mind. For instance,
+those two mysterious occurrences in the studio. Now, tell me honestly,
+Walter, is the danger really great?"
+
+Walter hesitated a moment before he replied.
+
+"I am very much afraid it is," he said presently. "It is all a
+question of time. And you must not regard Lord Ravenspur as a coward,
+because he is nothing of the kind. I am certain that he is acting in
+your very best interests----"
+
+"Ah, I thought I was at the bottom of it somewhere," Vera cried, as
+Walter bit his lip. "I was absolutely convinced of it. Oh, I know I
+couldn't tell you why, except that my instinct warns me. But am I not
+to know, Walter? Am I to go on being treated as a child? You have both
+been very good to me, and the mere suggestion that I am a danger and a
+burden to you fills me with pain. Won't you take me into your
+confidence? I am no longer a child."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+THE MESSAGE.
+
+
+"If the secret were only my own I would not hesitate a moment," Walter
+said. "Be patient a little longer, my dearest girl. I am quite sure
+that Ravenspur will tell you when the proper time comes. Once we are
+on board the yacht there will be no occasion for further secrecy.
+Another hour, and we shall be on our way. I am not a nervous man, but
+this thing is beginning to worry me."
+
+Vera persisted no further. The band had just ceased playing, and there
+was a sudden rush of guests into the garden, so that there was no
+opportunity for further privacy. A somewhat imperious dowager pounced
+down upon Walter, with a request that he would find her daughter, and
+there was nothing for it but to obey. Just for a moment Vera stood in
+the midst of a laughing, chattering group of friends, then she managed
+to slip away unseen. She wanted to be alone and think this matter out.
+
+She was just a little hurt that the others had not taken her into
+their confidence. Still, perhaps Lord Ravenspur had acted in this way
+to save her pain and annoyance. He had always been kind and
+considerate to her. She owed him a deep debt of gratitude. And yet, up
+to a few moments ago, she had been prepared to turn her back upon her
+best friends and face the world alone. But she could not do that now.
+She would have to abandon her plans for the future. She would have to
+stay by Lord Ravenspur's side until this terrible danger was past. She
+was only a girl, and could not do much. Still, that little she would
+do cheerfully.
+
+Vera was still busy with these painful thoughts when a footman came up
+and spoke to her. He had a note on a tray, which he handed to Vera,
+with the intimation that there was no reply. So far as Vera could
+tell, the handwriting was quite strange to her.
+
+"Who brought this?" she demanded.
+
+"It was left by some strange man, miss," the servant said. "I was to
+give it to you at once, when you were alone, if possible."
+
+The footman's manner was perfectly respectful. He discreetly said
+nothing of the sovereign which had accompanied the letter. Vera turned
+away and broke the seal. She was in a somewhat secluded part of the
+garden now, but she had no difficulty in reading the letter with the
+aid of the sparkling points of flame which glimmered from the branches
+of the overhanging trees.
+
+
+"My dear child (the letter ran),
+
+"I want you to read this alone. I want you to promise me that it shall
+be shown to nobody. I daresay you will wonder why I write like this,
+after all these years, but I can only plead that circumstances, not
+myself, are alone to blame. I want you to believe that up till quite
+recently I was hardly aware of your existence. But all these things I
+can explain when we meet. Naturally you will ask yourself who I am,
+and why I should venture to address you in this fashion. You will see
+presently.
+
+"For the last eighteen years you have dwelt under the roof of Lord
+Ravenspur. You have passed as his ward, and I understand that he has
+taken the greatest care of you. This much goes to his credit. But that
+he behaved like a scoundrel at the outset I am prepared to prove. Had
+it not been for him we should not have been parted all these years,
+and you would have had a better chance of making the acquaintance of
+your most unhappy mother.
+
+"There, I have told the truth at length, and now you are aware who it
+is that thus addresses you. When we meet I shall be able to explain
+why I did nothing all these years--but I am wasting time. I know that
+you are going away tonight. I know that you may be out of London for
+some months. At present, circumstances do not permit me to claim my
+rights, or to interfere with your plans. You will go away this evening
+just as if nothing had happened, but before you go it is most
+imperative that I should see you, if only for half an hour. I have had
+this letter sent you by a trusty friend, who will not fail me. If you
+will go through the shrubbery at the back, to Lady Ringmar's house,
+you will find a pathway bordered with nut trees, which ends in a green
+gate, leading to the lane at the back of the house. There you will
+find another friend, who will bring you to me without delay. I give
+you my word I will not detain you more than half an hour. Then you can
+return to your friends as if nothing had happened. They will be none
+the wiser. Indeed, I will ask you not to mention this letter to them
+at all.
+
+"I am not going to anticipate your refusal, for I know that you will
+come, especially when I sign myself
+
+"Your unhappy mother,
+
+"CARLOTTA FLAVIO."
+
+
+In a state of mind bordering on absolute bewilderment, Vera read the
+letter again and again. It filled her with a pain which was closely
+akin to shame. So far as she could see, there was no mistaking the
+relationship which at one time had existed between the writer of the
+letter and Lord Ravenspur. A natural craving and desire to see her
+mother came over Vera. She knew there was yet time to get away from
+Lady Ringmar's house and back again before the hour fixed for their
+departure. Vera slipped the letter inside her dress, and with a firm,
+determined step strode off in the direction of the shrubbery. She came
+presently to the spot indicated in the letter. She looked eagerly
+around to see if anybody awaited her. There was the faint suggestion
+of cigarette smoke lingering in the air, and then, from a turn in the
+path, the figure of a man emerged. Vera could see that he was
+exceedingly well turned out in evening dress. The dust coat he was
+wearing only partially concealed a slim built, athletic figure. For
+the rest, the man was good looking enough, and Vera judged from his
+dark eyes and black moustache that he was a foreigner, doubtless some
+relation of her mother. He lifted his hat with great courtesy, and
+waited for the girl to speak.
+
+"I am Vera Rayne," she said quite simply.
+
+"I am already aware of that," the stranger replied. "I suppose you
+received the Countess's letter? But you must have done so, otherwise
+you would not be here. You are prepared----"
+
+"One moment," Vera said. Caution had suddenly returned to her, and
+there was something in the eager light in the man's eyes now that
+warned her to be careful. "I shall be glad if you will let me know who
+you are. What is your name, for instance?"
+
+The gleam in the stranger's eyes deepened in intensity, a quick frown
+knitted his brows.
+
+"Can it in the least matter?" he demanded. "You have received the
+letter, and it is only for you to obey."
+
+There was a peremptory ring in the speech which Vera did not like at
+all. She realised that she was in a lonely part of the grounds, and
+that, in case of need, assistance was a long way off. She began to
+wish that she had been more prudent. After all, the whole thing might
+be a plot against her happiness, a scheme into which she had fallen
+without asking herself a single question. These doubts became
+something like certainties when the stranger strode past her and cut
+off all means of retreat.
+
+"You are wasting my time," he said, "and time is precious tonight. It
+is only a matter of half an hour altogether, and then you will be back
+with your friends once more. If I were not anxious for your welfare do
+you suppose I would be here at all?"
+
+The speaker's English was good enough, but Vera did not fail to detect
+the foreign accent behind it. She was becoming afraid now. Her heart
+was beating faster. She turned to see if assistance might not be at
+hand. But the thick belts of shrubs cut off all sounds. She could hear
+absolutely nothing in the direction of the house. And then there was
+another cause for fear. Surely she could hear something creeping
+stealthily through the bushes. She listened again, and the footsteps
+seemed to grow closer. Then the bushes parted, and a great black head
+and a pair of gleaming eyes emerged, followed by a long, heavy body
+that crept up to Vera's side and rubbed against her dress. A cry of
+thankfulness escaped her.
+
+"Bruno!" she panted. "How did you get here?"
+
+Then she remembered the dog had followed them from Park Lane. He had
+been tied up by Walter in the shrubbery, and the broken cord attached
+to his collar told the rest of the story. The great hound lifted his
+head. The glittering amber-coloured eyes were turned on the stranger,
+and a deep growl came from the depths of the dog's throat. The small
+man in evening dress stepped back.
+
+"That dog is very dangerous," he stammered.
+
+"Not while I am here," Vera said coldly, "though, perhaps if he met
+you here alone you might have cause for uneasiness. And now, sir, will
+you be so good as to tell me your name?"
+
+"Amati," the stranger said sullenly. "But what does it matter? You
+have made up your mind by this time whether you are coming with me or
+not. You know perfectly well, from the letter in your possession, that
+I am a messenger from your mother. I have a cab outside the lane, and
+I can take you to her at once. I pledge you my word that you shall be
+back in half an hour."
+
+Still Vera hesitated. Still her suspicions refused to be lulled.
+
+"It would be an easy matter for my mother to have come here," she
+said. "There is not the slightest chance of being interrupted. And
+seeing that time is so short----"
+
+The last words were inaudible, for there was a shrill whistle
+somewhere in the garden, and the dog by Vera's side whined uneasily.
+As Vera stooped to soothe him she twisted her handkerchief in the
+hound's collar. She recognised the whistle as Walter's. Then she gave
+a sign and the great beast bounded away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+LOST.
+
+
+A peculiar grim smile came over the face of the man who called himself
+Amati. He hesitated no longer, but with a single bound had reached
+Vera's side, his arm was around her neck and his right hand pressed to
+her lips before she could utter a sound.
+
+"Be silent," he hissed, "and all will be well with you. Believe me, I
+wish to do you no harm. You are quite safe with me."
+
+There was nothing for it but to stand there obedient to the speaker's
+will. Then, from his lips, came the sound like that of a bird startled
+from its nest in the night. The green door opened, and another man
+appeared. Almost before Vera knew what was happening she was half led,
+half carried through the door and deposited in a cab. It seemed to her
+that her senses were fading away, that there was something peculiarly
+sweet and faint smelling on the handkerchief which her assailant had
+pressed to her lips. The cab drove away swiftly, and the lane was left
+in silence once more.
+
+Meanwhile the evening was passing on, and Ravenspur was anxiously
+waiting for the moment when it would be time to get away. Walter came
+into the garden presently, wondering what had become of Vera.
+
+"I have been looking for her, too," Ravenspur said. "That is the worst
+of a great crush in a great house like this. It is so difficult to
+find anybody. We must be off in a quarter of an hour from now. What is
+all this I hear about one of the dogs?"
+
+"Oh, that is true enough," Walter laughed. "It was old Bruno. I
+suppose he managed to get away from Park Lane. At any rate, he
+followed us here and I found him holding up some people in one of the
+drawing-rooms. I thought he might just as well come to the station
+with us, so I tied him up in the shrubbery. When I went to see if he
+was all right just now I found the rascal had got away again. He came
+back when I whistled, but I couldn't get him to come to my side. I
+suppose he was afraid of getting a thrashing. However, he is lying
+down quite good in the shrubbery now, so there is no cause for worry.
+I daresay that it would be rather alarming for some of these women to
+be suddenly confronted with the dog when they were carrying on a
+tender flirtation in one of the arbours."
+
+But Lord Ravenspur was not listening. He looked anxious and worried
+and full of trouble.
+
+"Oh, Bruno will follow the cab right enough," he said impatiently,
+"and I daresay the other dog is at the station by this time. I wish
+you would go and find Vera for me. It sounds foolish, I know, but I
+have an absurd idea that something may happen just at the last moment.
+It is always the way when one is overstrung."
+
+Walter went off on his errand cheerfully enough. The moments passed,
+but he did not return, and the feeling of anxiety on Ravenspur's part
+deepened. Finally, Walter returned, with a face as anxious as Lord
+Ravenspur's own. He caught the latter's arm almost fiercely.
+
+"I begin to think you are right," he whispered. "I cannot find Vera
+anywhere. One of her girl friends tells me that she last saw her quite
+alone going off in the direction of the pathway behind the shrubbery.
+That was half an hour ago. What she could be doing there I haven't the
+remotest idea."
+
+A smothered groan escaped Ravenspur's lips.
+
+"I had half expected this," he muttered. "Something of the kind was
+bound to happen. She has been lured away, or she has been kidnapped.
+When you come to think of it, it is quite an easy matter in grounds as
+large as these. It seems quite hopeless to try and fight against these
+scoundrels. Depend upon it, they have found out our plans in some
+mysterious way, and have taken this step to thwart them at the last
+moment. But how did they manage, how could they have communicated with
+Vera? And what extraordinary allurement did they hold out to her to
+induce her to go off with strangers in this way? Oh, the thing is
+maddening!"
+
+"I don't know," Walter exclaimed. "I only know that we are wasting
+time, and very precious time at that. Now, let me see, what would be
+the most likely thing to appeal to the sentiments of a young girl like
+Vera? I should say something to do with her mother. That, you may
+depend upon it--a letter from her mother. We can very soon see whether
+my suspicions are right or not. I'll go out into the hall at once and
+interview the footmen."
+
+A group of idle, lounging footmen were loafing in the hall. Walter
+went straight to the point.
+
+"Which of you gave Miss Rayne a letter just now?" he demanded. "And
+who brought it? Come, speak out!"
+
+The strong, determined voice was not without its effect. One of the
+footmen came forward and murmured that he had taken the letter and
+delivered it to Vera.
+
+"It was about half an hour ago, sir," he explained. "No, I don't know
+the man who brought it. He looked like a small tradesman, or
+respectable clerk. All he told me was to give the letter to Miss Rayne
+and see that she had it at once."
+
+"And you were to give it to her when she was alone?"
+
+"Well, yes, sir," the man admitted. "The messenger did say that. You
+see, there was nothing strange--"
+
+"Oh, of course not," Walter said impatiently. "You were to give it to
+Miss Rayne when she was alone, and you had a handsome tip for your
+pains. Was not that so?"
+
+The man's face testified to the fact that Walter's shot had hit the
+mark, but the latter did not remain there a single moment longer. He
+had not lost sight of the fact that a cross-examination of a servant
+would probably have led to a deal of idle gossip, in which Vera's name
+would have been mixed up; and besides, the footman was obviously an
+innocent party, and had told everything that he knew in connection
+with the letter and its delivery.
+
+"It is just as you feared," Walter said, when he reached Ravenspur's
+side. "A respectably-dressed man came here half an hour ago and left a
+letter for Vera, which was to be delivered to her when she was alone.
+The thing was done, and that is how the mischief began. I feel quite
+sure that I am right, and that that letter came, or purported to come,
+from Vera's mother. The poor child would naturally go off, thinking no
+evil. You may depend upon it that that scoundrel Silva is at the
+bottom of it all. He cannot strike you in one way, so he has made up
+his mind to deal the blow in another direction. There is no time to be
+lost."
+
+"But how on earth did they find out our plans?" Ravenspur groaned.
+"All the servants are to be trusted."
+
+"I've got it," Walter said suddenly. "Don't you recollect that blind
+organ-grinder that Vera was so interested in? He was hanging about
+Park Lane all day. Those sort of people have regular beats, and he has
+never been seen there before. He saw all that baggage going away, and
+drew his own conclusions. It would be an easy matter to have the stuff
+followed to Waterloo Station, and find all about the special train
+from the porters. But what are we going to do? Are we going to raise
+an alarm?"
+
+"Not yet," Ravenspur said hoarsely. "Don't let us have any scandal as
+long as we can possibly avoid it. I'll go out with you and we'll make
+another search of the grounds first. We may find some sort of a clue,
+and if we do we can follow it up without anybody being any the wiser.
+Lady Ringmar will simply think that we went off without saying
+goodbye, and there will be an end of the matter as far as she is
+concerned. Now come along."
+
+The two slipped out into the grounds again and made a rapid search of
+the garden. In the shrubbery they found the great hound, Bruno,
+patiently waiting there. Apparently he seemed to think that his time
+for punishment was past, for he crept up to Walter's side and rubbed
+his great, black muzzle against his knee.
+
+"Here's an inspiration," Walter exclaimed. "If Vera went away at all,
+she must have gone by the back gate. We will put Bruno on the scent,
+and if--Hallo, what's this?"
+
+The dainty white cambric, with its fringe of lace, caught Walter's
+eye. He withdrew the fragment from under the dog's collar and held it
+up to one of the points of electric flame.
+
+"Here is a clue with a vengeance," he exclaimed. "This is Vera's
+handkerchief. Depend upon it, this is a signal to us that the dog must
+have been with her at the time she went, and she must certainly have
+gone voluntarily, or the dog would have made short work of the person
+with whom Vera departed. She took this way of letting us know she had
+gone, and most assuredly she must have gone by the back gate. What a
+lucky thing it was that the dog came here tonight. Let us put him on
+the scent at once."
+
+"Your suggestion is an inspiration," Ravenspur muttered. "But we can't
+go quite like this, you know. Run back to the house and get our coats
+and hats. Don't be long."
+
+Walter was back in a minute or two with the wraps. Then he laid his
+hand on the dog's collar and led him down the path at the back of the
+shrubbery. The great beast appeared to know exactly what was wanted of
+him, for, after throwing up his head and giving vent to a long-drawn
+howl, he placed his muzzle on the ground and scratched furiously at
+the door. When the road was reached, at length, the dog tore along at
+a furious rate, so that the silk scarf twisted round his collar tired
+Walter's arms terribly.
+
+Still, that did not matter, as they were making good progress now.
+They went on and on, passing street after street, until the dawn came,
+and they were in a distant suburb. Before an attractive-looking house,
+the blinds and shutters of which were closely drawn, Bruno paused and
+threw up his head.
+
+"This is the place right enough," Walter whispered. "Be careful. If we
+are seen everything is spoilt."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+A MISSING LINK.
+
+
+It was practically daylight now, so that the greatest caution was
+absolutely necessary. It was possible to obtain cover behind a group
+of thorn bushes and take observations of the house. But even that did
+not lack risk, all the more so because of the presence of the dog. The
+great hound had served his purpose, and it was essential that he
+should be got rid of, for the present at any rate.
+
+The house itself was quite a good one. The grounds were neat and trim.
+The flower boxes in the windows ablaze with bloom. The place spoke for
+itself as the residence of some prosperous individual who, in all
+probability, was somebody of importance in the City. It was the last
+place in the world to associate with crime and violence. In front of
+the house was a fairly large lawn, shaded by shrubs and trees. A
+kitchen garden at the back was bounded by a lane, and on the far side
+of this stretched a wide open common covered with gorse and bracken.
+
+"Have you any idea where we are?" Lord Ravenspur asked.
+
+"Not the faintest,'" Walter confessed. "I have never been here before.
+The only thing I am sure of is that Vera is in yonder house. But let
+us get away from here and talk it over. The further this thing goes,
+the more sure I am that we have foes to deal with who are clever as
+they are unscrupulous."
+
+"But where shall we go?" Ravenspur asked.
+
+Walter suggested skirting round the back of the house, and so on to
+the common. Once there, they found shelter enough, for the gorse was
+high and the bracken was deep. Indeed, a regiment of soldiers might
+have hidden there with perfect safety.
+
+"I think I begin to see my way," Walter said. "One of us must stay
+here and the other get back to London without delay. If you don't
+mind, I should like to consult my friend Venables about this business.
+He is very clever and courageous, and, besides, he has a decided
+fondness for detective business. I think you will agree with me that
+we want another hand?"
+
+"We want half a dozen," Ravenspur murmured. "What we really ought to
+do is to place the matter in the hands of the police and have yonder
+house searched at once. Yet, I am very loth to do that. I am
+exceedingly anxious to prevent anything like a scandal, and this is
+the very sort of thing to appeal to the cheap Press. But what are we
+going to do about our journey to Weymouth? What would the officials at
+Waterloo think when we didn't turn up last night? And, again, there
+are all the servants in Park Lane. If you can only show me some way to
+stop the mouths of these people I shall be grateful. You know what
+servants are."
+
+"I think that can be managed," Walter said after a thoughtful pause.
+"You stay here while I go back to London. I will return as soon as
+possible. Oh, of course, I will bring a change of clothing with me. It
+would be madness to hang about a suburb like this in evening dress. We
+should be spotted in a moment."
+
+It seemed to Ravenspur that there was no help for it. Anxious and
+troubled and worn out as he was, he could not be altogether blind to
+the absurdity of the situation. The idea of a man in his position
+hiding himself on a London common, dressed as he was, seemed
+ridiculous. He had no more than a dust coat over his evening dress; he
+was wearing the collar of an Order. Still, as he looked about him he
+took fresh heart of grace. The common appeared to be little
+frequented. There were deep hollows here and there, full of bracken
+and brambles, under which it was possible to hide. There was no
+prospect of Walter getting back within the next three hours. There was
+nothing for it but to make the best of the situation.
+
+Meanwhile, Walter was hurrying back to London. He made a wide _détour_
+of the common, so that it was not possible for him to be seen from the
+house. Then presently he struck a main road on the far side of which
+ran a railway line. He could see in the distance the buildings and
+signals that marked a station. At any rate, he would be able to find
+out where he was without displaying his ignorance by asking questions.
+It was still quite early, only a little past five o'clock, as Walter
+found on consulting his watch. After all said and done, the station
+was not much use to him, for probably no train would run within the
+next couple of hours. Presently there was a clatter of hoofs behind,
+and an empty hansom came along. The sight of the cab was proof to
+Walter that he was not very far outside the radius. A happy idea came
+to him.
+
+"Are you going back to town?" he asked the cabman.
+
+"Well, yes, sir," the cabman explained. "I have been taking a fare out
+to Cannon Green."
+
+"Then you are just the man for me," Walter exclaimed. "My man has
+failed to turn up, and I was going to try the station. I suppose that
+is Cannon Green station just at the end of the road?"
+
+"That's right, sir," the cabman said civilly. "But you'll get no train
+yet. Drive you anywhere you like, sir, for half-a-sovereign."
+
+Walter jumped into the cab without further hesitation. A ride of a
+little over an hour brought him to Park Lane. A sleepy footman opened
+the door, and regarded Walter in amazement. He had his story all
+ready. There had been misunderstanding on the previous evening, and
+Lord Ravenspur and Miss Rayne had gone on to Weymouth by an early
+train. There was something very paltry about this deception, but at
+the same time it seemed to Walter to be absolutely necessary. He
+roused his own man; together they packed a couple of portmanteaux,
+which Walter gave directions should be taken to Waterloo Station
+without delay, and left in the cloakroom. Once he had satisfied the
+curiosity of the household in Park Lane, he went on promptly to
+Venables' rooms. Over a hasty breakfast he explained everything that
+had happened to his companion. As he expected, Venables at once threw
+himself heart and soul into the adventure.
+
+"I quite understand your point of view," he exclaimed. "What you want
+to do is to hang about all day and take observations. At the same
+time, it is absolutely necessary that we should arouse no suspicions.
+I think I can see my way. This is a matter of disguise. We can pick up
+all we want in this direction in Covent Garden on our way to the
+station."
+
+"There is only one thing that worries me," Walter said, "and that is
+Bruno. What shall we do with him?"
+
+"Oh, that's all right," Venables cried. "Very well-trained dog, isn't
+he? So much the better. You see, in the course of my adventures I have
+come across some pretty shady specimens of humanity, though I am bound
+to say that I have found many of this class pretty faithful when they
+are well paid. Now I know a fellow at Cannon Green who will look after
+the dog for us for a consideration. He is a fancier himself, and
+always has a few animals for sale. What more natural than that he
+should have a bloodhound on the premises? Mr. Bill Perks is more than
+suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, and on two occasions
+has been in trouble. Still, he knows me, and will do anything I like,
+provided I pay him handsomely. Don't let us waste any more time."
+
+An hour later and the two adventurers left the train at Cannon Green,
+bearing a set of instruments such as those used by surveyors when they
+are planning and laying out new land. Their disguise was slight
+enough, but quite sufficient for the purpose. Both wore smart looking
+caps, edged with gold, so that their appearance was sufficiently
+formal and official. In addition to this Walter carried a bulky bag,
+which contained a complete change of clothing for Lord Ravenspur. The
+latter was glad enough to see Walter and Venables. He breathed a
+little more freely when he found himself clad at length in a Norfolk
+suit. He rather rebelled against a showy white helmet and a set of
+long grey whiskers which Venables proceeded to attach dexterously to
+his face. A few touches of grease paint and pencil, together with a
+pair of big spectacles, rendered the disguise complete. Walter
+expressed his admiration.
+
+"I can hardly believe that it is you, uncle," he said.
+
+"And you are changed almost out of recognition," Ravenspur said.
+"Really, I must compliment Mr. Venables. And now, I suppose I had
+better hide the bag in these bushes. We have a very anxious day before
+us, I am afraid, but that does not prevent one feeling the call of
+Nature. I don't think I was ever so ravenously hungry in my life.
+Where can we get some breakfast?"
+
+Venables, who seemed to have thought of everything, had already solved
+the problem. There was a very fair hotel not far from the station, and
+it would be an easy matter to hide the surveying outfit till it was
+needed. In the first place, they could skirt round the edge of the
+common, and pay a call on the man Perks, who would look after the dog
+till his services were needed again.
+
+They came at length to Perks' house, a rather dilapidated looking
+place, with a large, untidy garden around it. There were sheds and
+huts and kennels at the back, so that the intruders were greeted with
+a terrible din of barking as they went up the path.
+
+"Cunning hand, Perks," Venables explained. "It is very little he makes
+out of dog-fancying. But see how useful these animals are. Day or
+night the police can never approach the place with the object of raid
+without Perks having ample notice. But come along, and you shall see
+the man for yourselves. Oh, you needn't trouble yourself about your
+disguise. Perks is not in the least suspicious nor will he ask any
+questions. He will only think that you are a couple of amateur
+detectives like myself."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
+
+
+Roused by the angry uproar of the dogs, a tall, round-shouldered
+individual appeared in the doorway. He had a melancholy cast of face
+which was intensified by the lank black hair which hung upon his
+shoulders. Indeed, the man looked more like some street preacher than
+a suspect with a record of crime behind him. But the eyes were shrewd
+enough, and so was the smile with which Perks greeted Venables when
+the latter disclosed his identity.
+
+"Ah, well, you was always one for your little games, sir," he said.
+"Take care of that dog for you? Of course I will. And a rare beauty he
+is. Is there anything else, gentlemen?"
+
+"No," Venables explained. "Mind the dog is for sale if anybody asks
+questions. You have had him for some time, and you want a big price
+for him. Maybe we shall be able to find a job for you after dark
+tonight, but as to that I can say nothing for the present. At any
+rate, there is a five-pound note for you so long as you are discreet
+and silent. I suppose I can come into your house and write a letter?
+I'll get you to post it presently."
+
+Perks intimated that his house was at the disposal of the visitors,
+and they all trooped inside. The place looked cosy and comfortable
+enough, though it was somewhat untidy. At one end of the table was a
+china bowl, which was filled with odds and ends of small gold and
+silver ornaments. Venables winked at Perks, and the latter grinned
+sheepishly. He snatched up the bowl, and hastily removed it to a side
+table. Ravenspur held out a detaining hand.
+
+"One moment," he said, "I am rather fond of those kind of things. I
+don't wish to be inquisitive, or to ask idle questions, but unless I
+am greatly mistaken you have a Commonwealth porringer amongst those
+things. I should like to look at it."
+
+Perks bowed to the inevitable. He cursed himself slightly under his
+breath for his folly in not removing everything, but he felt safe in
+the hands of his visitors. They would not be likely to ask any
+questions as to whence the plunder came. By the time that Venables had
+written and stamped his letter, Lord Ravenspur came forward with a
+small metal disc in his hand.
+
+"This is a bit of a curio in its way," he said. "Intrinsically it is
+worth very little, only a few shillings at the outside. If you like to
+take a sovereign for it----"
+
+Perks fell in with the suggestion eagerly enough. There was no reason
+to stay any longer, and the trio set out for the hotel, feeling now
+that it was possible to move without the slightest fear of alarming
+the inhabitants of the cottage on the common.
+
+"I suppose that was stolen property we caught Perks looking over?"
+Ravenspur asked.
+
+"Not the slightest doubt of it," Venables said coolly. "I daresay if
+we had been voted suspicious the signal would have been flashed back
+to the house to hide it at once. But if you thought it was stolen
+property, Lord Ravenspur, why did you invest in that little disc which
+you took such a fancy to?"
+
+"I am going to tell you something startling," Ravenspur replied.
+"Walter, you recollect that little ornament which I bought in Rome,
+and subsequently gave to poor Delahay who took a great fancy to it? I
+had his initials engraved on the back. He wore it on his watch-chain."
+
+"I recollect it perfectly well," Walter said. "Delahay was wearing it
+the last time I ever saw him. But what has all this got to do with
+your purchase of this morning?"
+
+"Only that it happens to be the same thing," Ravenspur said quietly.
+"I recognised it in a moment. Oh, there is no mistake. Here is the
+disc for you to examine for yourself. You will see the initials and
+the date on the back of it. As soon as we get time, we must ascertain
+from Inspector Dallas if Delahay's watch was missing when his body was
+found. If so, then this opens quite a new phase of the mystery. On the
+whole, I am not at all sorry that we came here today. Of course, I
+kept my knowledge to myself, because I didn't want to arouse Perks'
+suspicions. But if we can contrive to find out from whom he bought
+this thing we shall be going a long way to clear up the mystery of
+poor Delahay's death."
+
+The matter was discussed at some length over the breakfast, to which
+all of them did ample justice. Once this was finished, they made their
+way back to the common again, and sat down on the grass to mature
+their plan of campaign.
+
+"Now what we want to do," Venables began, "is this. We want to be in a
+position to make a close study of yonder house without arousing the
+suspicions of the people there. I racked my brain for a long time
+before I could think of a feasible scheme. And then it came to to me
+like an inspiration. What could we do better than pass ourselves off
+as an Ordnance Survey party down here on business? That is why I
+procured the official-looking caps, to say nothing of the theodolite
+and the notebooks. Now you, Lord Ravenspur, have only got to look wise
+and give us directions. You look exactly like the head of an exploring
+party. We will pretend to work the theodolite, and make measurements,
+and all that kind of thing."
+
+"Inside the grounds?" Walter asked.
+
+"Of course," Venables went on; "that is the beauty of the scheme. No
+spot of ground is sacred to an Ordnance party. I have actually seen
+them work inside a church. All we have got to do is to go about our
+business boldly and be quite firm if anybody attempts to molest us. It
+may be news to you that nobody can be prosecuted for trespass unless
+specific damage is done."
+
+The instruments were recovered presently from the hiding-place, and
+with the theodolite on his shoulder Venables stepped boldly on to the
+lawn in front of the house, and gravely went to work. The blinds
+were all up by this time. The windows were opened, and a glimpse of
+well-furnished rooms could be seen in the background. A couple of
+maids stood in one of the windows, and watched the strangers
+curiously.
+
+"It looks respectable enough," Venables muttered, pretending to be
+exceedingly busy. "You may depend upon it, this is a tougher job than
+we anticipated. These servants are all right. You may be sure that
+they know nothing of what is going on. However, to make certain, I'll
+ask them for myself."
+
+Venables approached the window and asked civilly for the loan of a
+small piece of string. He came back presently, after a chat of a
+minute or two, and once more appeared to be wholly engrossed in his
+instrument. At the same time, he was telling his companions the
+information which he had gleaned.
+
+"I knew I was right," he said. "The house has been let furnished to an
+Italian gentleman called something or another, I didn't quite catch
+what, and the people only came down yesterday. Those servants go with
+the freehold, so to speak, and they have all been in their present
+situation for some considerable time. Their master is a City
+stockbroker, who, with his family, is on the Continent for the next
+month or two. If we are lucky we shall probably get a sight of the
+Italian presently, though I expect we have all got a pretty shrewd
+notion who the gentleman is."
+
+The work proceeded gravely for a quarter of an hour. Levels appeared
+to be taken, and there was much entering of figures in the notebooks.
+Presently, as Walter glanced around him, he drew a deep breath, for
+there was no mistaking the identity of the slim figure that emerged
+from one of the open French windows and came striding eagerly down the
+lawn.
+
+"Silva," Walter said under his breath. "Don't pretend to see him till
+he gets quite close. I think it would be a good thing if we left all
+the interviewing to Venables."
+
+The Italian approached the group and superciliously demanded to know
+what they were doing there. He looked quite the master of the place in
+his cool, flannel suit. He had a cigarette between his strong, white
+teeth.
+
+"Why are you trespassing here?" he demanded. "Don't you know that this
+is private property? Go, or I will call in the police and give you
+into custody."
+
+"The police won't help you in this case," Venables said with the air
+of a military man who is quite sure of his ground. "We are here on
+Government business. I don't know if you understand what I mean, but
+we are surveying, and nobody has a right to interfere with us,
+providing we do no damage. We can come into the house if we like.
+Indeed, I am not quite sure that we shan't have to. I see you have got
+a flat roof, sir, with railings round. If we have occasion to take the
+theodolite up there I will ring the bell and let you know."
+
+The whole thing was so coolly and naturally done that Silva was taken
+aback for the moment. Evidently he had come out of the house full of
+suspicion, and with the fixed intention of getting rid of these
+intruders as soon as possible. There was an uneasy look in his eyes as
+Venables suggested the roof of the house as the field of action. He
+deemed it wise to shift his ground altogether.
+
+"That will be very inconvenient," he said, in quite another voice. "I
+hope you will be able to manage without that if you can. However, if
+you will give me an hour's notice, I daresay----"
+
+But Walter was no longer listening. He was standing up regarding the
+house with a professional eye. His gaze vaguely took in a dormer
+window immediately under the roof. There were bars to the window,
+pointing to the fact that at some time or another the room had been
+used as a nursery. The window was blank for a moment, then a face
+appeared and looked out.
+
+That instant was enough for Walter. There was no mistaking those
+features. They were those of Vera Rayne.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE.
+
+
+It was with the greatest difficulty that Walter restrained himself. He
+dared not look round again until Silva's back was turned and the
+Italian returned to the house. Even then it would have been impolitic
+to make a sign, for there might be prying, suspicious eyes looking
+from other windows who would understand, and then the whole of
+Venables' ingenious scheme would be wasted. Turning sideways, Walter
+glanced up again. It seemed to him that he could still catch the
+outline of Vera's figure. Then a desperate idea occurred to him. He
+stooped down and went through all the motions of patting and
+caressing some favourite animal. There was just the outside chance
+that Vera might take this as an allusion to Bruno, and the knowledge
+that the dog had put her friends on her track. The girl was sharp and
+quick enough, and she might easily, in the light of events, guess the
+identity of the trio on the lawn. Before Walter could speak, Venables
+glanced in his direction and smiled.
+
+"Well, did you see it?" the former asked.
+
+"Did you see it, too?" Walter exclaimed. "I am glad of that because
+now I know I was not mistaken."
+
+"See what?" Ravenspur asked, apparently busy with his notebook. "I
+didn't notice anything."
+
+"It was Vera," Walter whispered. "Whatever you do, don't look up now.
+I daresay you happened to notice a dormer window in the roof, with
+bars in front of it. Well, a moment ago, I saw Vera's face there. What
+a fortunate thing it was that we thought of the dog last night! I knew
+he would not lead us astray."
+
+"So far, so good," Venables murmured. "And now, don't let us forget
+what we are here for. The next thing is to go to the back of the house
+and go through the same pantomime there. What I want to do is to find
+the easiest way of getting into the place, and to ascertain how many
+people there are in the house, and where they sleep. For that purpose
+it is necessary to be as near the back door as possible. I shall want
+you two to keep up the masquerade while I pump the servants. With any
+luck we shall have got all we want to know by lunch time."
+
+Venables was as good as his word. By two o'clock the survey was
+complete, and the trio were trudging off to their hotel to talk the
+matter over. It was in a little arbour in the garden, over cigars and
+coffee, that Venables unbosomed himself.
+
+"It is like this," he explained. "I told you before that those
+servants were quite innocent of anything going wrong in the house, and
+so it turns out. The tenant is Silva, and his sister, the countess of
+something or another, whose name doesn't matter, though it will be
+necessary to see the lady later on. There is no basement, and, as far
+as I could see, there would be very little difficulty in obtaining
+entrance to the house by means of a small window that gives light and
+air to the larder. On the ground floor are four living rooms, which we
+need not trouble about. There are four bedrooms on the first floor,
+and four on the second, to say nothing of the room in the roof. I
+didn't dare to be too curious about this roof room, but I am told that
+Silva uses it himself for certain experiments, and that, as his
+experiments are dangerous, he keeps the key in his pocket. The
+explanation sounds simple, and quite suffices for the servants; but I
+think we have got a pretty fair idea of what is going on in that roof
+room. I have managed to make a rough sort of plan of the bedrooms, so
+that we shall be fairly safe when we come to break into the house, as
+we shall have to do, soon after midnight, if you are agreeable."
+
+"Isn't that rather a dangerous proceeding?" Walter asked. "I didn't
+know that you added housebreaking to your other accomplishments. Being
+amateurs, we are certain to make a noise, and you may be pretty sure
+that Silva only sleeps on one ear."
+
+"Oh, that part will be managed for us all right," Venables said
+coolly. "The housebreaking item of the programme will be carried out
+by Perks. The rascal knows he is quite safe in our hands, and he will
+do all that is necessary for about a ten-pound note. Once his work is
+accomplished we will send him about his business. The rest we can
+manage ourselves. It will go hard, indeed, with us if Miss Rayne is
+not back in our hands again before daylight."
+
+Walter could think of no better scheme to offer, so that Venables was
+allowed to have his own way. There was nothing for it now but to pass
+the time as best they could till midnight The hours stole slowly on.
+The darkness deepened and night came at length. Dinner had been a
+thing of the past for some time, and it was getting near eleven
+o'clock before the trio, accompanied by Perks, made their way in the
+direction of the common. They lay quietly on the turf there till a
+distant church clock struck twelve, then Venables jumped to his feet
+and declared that the time for action had arrived.
+
+It was nervous enough work, and Walter was wishing it well over. There
+was no trouble in getting into the garden, and round to the back of
+the house, to the point fixed upon by Venables as being the most
+likely for their purpose. They had all been provided with silent shoes
+by Perks, though no questions were asked as to whence they came. Now
+that the pinch had come Perks was by far the most confident of the
+party. Probably his previous experiences in this line were standing
+him in good stead.
+
+Coolly enough he produced a dark lantern and turned the disc of flame
+down, so that it shone alone upon the bag of tools which lay upon the
+grass. He picked out one presently, and proceeded, in perfectly
+noiseless fashion, to cut out a disc of glass to which he had
+previously affixed a sheet of brown paper by the aid of the tallow
+from a candle. Once the instrument had severed the glass, the portion
+cut away fell noiselessly into Perks' hand, so that he had no
+difficulty in placing his arm inside and pulling back the catch. The
+window was now open, but it was sufficiently small to make entry into
+the house a matter of some difficulty.
+
+"I think you had better try first," Venables whispered to Walter. "You
+are the most agile. Just work your way through and go round to the
+front door and let us in. I don't think you need stay any longer,
+Perks."
+
+"I am not quite so sure about that, sir," Perks grinned. "It is a very
+common practice with people to fasten their scullery and kitchen
+doors. I think I had better stay here till the gentleman has made
+sure."
+
+A grim, silent moment or two followed. Then, surely enough, Walter
+came back with the whispered information that the kitchen door was
+locked. Perks chuckled to himself as he snatched up another instrument
+and squeezed through the window. He set to work in business-like
+fashion, so that the kitchen door was forced at length without the
+slightest noise, and the way to the hall was clear.
+
+In the strange, unfamiliar darkness, Walter stood for a moment until
+his eyes should become accustomed to the objects all about him. One by
+one they began to loom out of the blackness. He could make out chairs
+and tables, the outline of a square hall, and the front door at the
+end of it. He set his teeth together, now filled with a stern
+resolution to succeed or lose his life in the attempt. He was not
+ignorant of the class of man he had to deal with. He knew that Silva
+would not hesitate to shoot him down like a dog if his presence were
+detected. But, surely, between the three of them, they would be able
+to manage? It only needed to find Silva's room, to go in there and
+overpower him. Once he was helpless, to get up to the roof room and
+rescue Vera was the work of a moment.
+
+With these sanguine thoughts uppermost in his mind, Walter cautiously
+made his way in the direction of the front door. It was not difficult
+to draw the bolts or take down the chain. But the trouble lay in the
+fact that the door was also locked, and the key had vanished.
+Therefore, any idea of admitting his companions that way had to be
+definitely abandoned.
+
+Still, there were the windows, and French windows at that. But even
+this scheme was frustrated by the knowledge, gained a moment later,
+that all the living rooms on the ground floor were locked and the keys
+taken away. It was a disconcerting moment, and Walter hardly knew how
+to proceed. There was no help for it but to return by the way he had
+come and tell the others of his discovery. As to Lord Ravenspur, he
+was far too big a man to squeeze through the larder window, so that
+the perilous task would devolve entirely upon Walter and Venables.
+
+As Walter stood there he became conscious of the fact that a feeble
+ray of light was penetrating down the well of the stairs. Acting on
+the impulse of the moment he crept up a few of the thickly carpeted
+stairs until he was in a position to command the landing. The light
+penetrated from one of the rooms, the door of which was slightly open,
+so that Walter was fain to look in. It was only a night-light, after
+all, standing on a small table in the middle of the room. Even from
+that distance Walter could see that a letter lay by the side of the
+light, or, rather, a sheet of paper with a message upon it. Powerful
+curiosity drew him on, and he snatched up the sheet of paper. There
+were only two or three lines, but Walter recognised, with a thrill,
+that they were in Vera's handwriting. He had no time to read, before a
+sudden rush of cold air from somewhere extinguished the feeble light.
+Worse than this, the current slammed the door to with a bang that
+shook the whole house. It was so utterly unexpected, and the darkness
+was so intense, that Walter could only stand there utterly lost as to
+his surroundings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+A STRANGE HOME-COMING.
+
+
+Vera opened her eyes at length. Gradually the things that had happened
+came back to her. She recognised the futility of resistance. All she
+could do was to wait and hope for the best. But despite the startling
+rapidity with which events had moved, she was not in the least
+frightened. Her prevailing feeling was one of indignation that any man
+should have dared to treat her in this way. Withal, there was a
+certain vein of curiosity that Vera did not care to suppress. The cab
+was still moving briskly, and Vera judged by the trees on each side of
+the road that they were already out in the country. The man sat
+opposite her, grim and silent. He made no inquiry as to how Vera was
+getting on. He suggested no apology for his violence.
+
+The feeling of languor and the suggestion of headache passed away,
+leaving Vera strong and vigorous again. It was impossible to sit there
+without speaking.
+
+"Do you quite understand what you are doing?" she said to the man
+opposite. "Do you realise that you are guilty of a criminal offence?
+You could be prosecuted for this."
+
+"I will not contradict you," Silva said politely. "Believe me, I
+deeply regret the necessity for taking this step. Yet it was
+impossible to satisfy our requirements in any other way."
+
+"Oh, you are not alone, then?" Vera asked. "Would it be inquiring too
+much if I asked who else is in this business?"
+
+Silva smiled under cover of the darkness. A man of courage himself, he
+admired that quality in others. So the child that he had known, and
+been so passionately attached to, eighteen years ago had grown up to
+be a worthy representative of her race? Vera would have been
+astonished at that moment if she could have seen into the back of
+Silva's brain. She did not realise for a moment that here was a man
+who would have gone through fire and water for her, and yet, at the
+same time, he was prepared to wreak his insane vengeance upon those
+whom she loved and admired more than anybody in the world. If Vera's
+happiness had depended upon it, Silva would not have spared Ravenspur,
+even had Vera gone on her knees and asked for it. Yet he would have
+given his life if it could have done any good to this proud descendant
+of the house of Descarti.
+
+"Surely you can guess who is with me in this business?" he said. "Did
+I not bring you a letter from your mother?"
+
+Vera started. She had forgotten her mother for the moment, and this
+question of Silva's had opened up a new and painful train of thought.
+He was taking her to see her mother. But why had her mother so
+suddenly displayed this tender solicitude, after leaving her
+absolutely alone all these years? That Vera's mother was in possession
+of her whereabouts, and had been all this time, the girl did not
+doubt. When part of the story had to be told she had accepted
+Ravenspur's statement implicitly. Her mother was a vile woman, and the
+past was too painful for a young girl to hear. Ravenspur had not said
+so in as many words, but that was distinctly the impression he had
+conveyed to Vera. She began dimly to comprehend now why this new-born
+affection of her mother's had not found vent in the conventional way.
+Doubtless Ravenspur would have forbidden her the house. Doubtless he
+had a hold that gave him the control of the situation--probably a
+compact made years ago. And now one of the parties desired to break
+it. Perhaps it was a question of money, or family property, or
+something of that kind? Vera had heard of similar cases.
+
+At any rate, there must be some reason for this mystery and violence.
+And no doubt every word that Ravenspur had said about her mother's
+character was true. Otherwise she could not have consented to an
+abduction like this. Still, there was comfort in the reflection that
+Lord Ravenspur and Walter would leave no stone unturned to punish this
+outrage. The miscreants would be found out sooner or later. Vera
+congratulated herself now upon the fact that she had left her
+handkerchief tied to the collar of the dog Bruno. That would be a
+sufficient clue to put her friends on the trail, and Bruno himself,
+with his unerring instinct, would lead the pursuers to the right
+place. After all, the imprisonment could not last long, though Vera
+boiled with indignation as she thought of the treacherous way in which
+she had been deceived.
+
+"And you are going to take me to my mother, then?" she asked.
+
+"That is the programme," Silva said coolly. "Unfortunately, you will
+not be able to see the Countess tonight. You may believe me or not,
+but I am sorry to have been compelled to take a step like this. But
+you see, Lord Ravenspur's plans made it quite impossible for me to
+wait till tomorrow."
+
+Vera was silent for a moment. She could see plainly that Ravenspur's
+clever scheme for getting away to Weymouth had been betrayed by
+someone to this man. Her chief anxiety for the moment was for her
+guardian. It was terrible to think that he had been dogged and watched
+by people so cunning and unscrupulous as these. Vera was still
+thinking the matter over when the cab stopped and Silva bade her get
+out. A wild idea of appealing to the cabman for assistance was
+dismissed as she caught sight of his face. There was a grin upon it,
+and the driver unmistakably winked at Silva. There was just enough
+light for Vera to see that the cabman was not wearing a badge.
+Doubtless he was a conspirator, too. There was nothing for it but to
+see the thing through to the finish. So Vera followed Silva through
+the garden till he paused at length on the steps of a house, which
+appeared to be in total darkness.
+
+"The servants have gone to bed," Silva explained, as he opened the
+door with a latchkey. "If you will wait a moment, I will turn up the
+gas. If you desire anything----"
+
+"Nothing," Vera said curtly. "All I want you to do is to show me to my
+room. I wish to be alone."
+
+Silva bowed politely enough. He turned and locked the door, and Vera
+saw that he dropped the key in his pocket. Then he took a silver
+candlestick from the hall table and handed it to Vera, intimating that
+he would like her to precede him up the stairs. They came at length to
+a room in the roof of the house which appeared to be comfortably,
+almost luxuriously furnished, and with every feminine requirement at
+hand. With absolute amazement Vera saw her own silver toilet set laid
+out on the dressing table, her handbag was on the floor, and in one
+corner of the room stood the two dress-baskets which her maid had
+packed for immediate use on board the yacht. A slight smile of
+amusement flickered over Silva's face as he noticed Vera's amazement.
+
+"Everything has been done to make you comfortable," he said. "It was
+my own idea to remove your immediate belongings from Waterloo Station
+and bring them on here. I assure you that it was no difficult job. And
+now I wish you goodnight, with a thousand pardons for the way in
+which I have been compelled to treat you. Tomorrow morning----"
+
+Silva paused significantly and bowed himself out of the room. He
+closed the door gently behind him, and Vera waited till the sound of
+his footsteps had died away. She tried the door, but, as she had
+anticipated, it was fastened on the outside. Beyond all question, she
+was a prisoner. There was nothing but to make the best of it, and wait
+on the course of events. There were two bolts on the inside of the
+door, and, having secured these, Vera felt easier in her mind. She
+undressed slowly, and more for something to occupy her mind than
+anything else. She would never be able to sleep again. The idea of
+sleep seemed to be out of the question. Yet, within ten minutes, Vera
+had fallen into a deep slumber from which she did not wake until the
+sun was shining high, and the birds were singing in the trees. The
+girl rose eagerly and looked out. She could see a wide expanse of
+green lawn, with big shaded trees here and there. On two sides of the
+house a common stretched away apparently to the confines of space. How
+far she was from London Vera could not say. Certainly she had never
+been here before. She was still admiring the beauty of the landscape
+when there came a quiet knock at the door, and after the bolts were
+drawn Silva came in. He was, if possible, even more abjectly
+apologetic than on the previous evening.
+
+"I am bound to intrude," he said. "You see, this house has only been
+taken for a time, and the servants are absolutely in ignorance of your
+presence here. I merely came to show you where you could find all the
+requisites for your breakfast, and as to the rest, they are in this
+basket. Here is a spirit lamp, so that you can boil your own water. I
+am in great hopes that before evening I shall be able to give you what
+is practically the freedom of the house. Do not think too harshly of
+me."
+
+Vera made no reply; she was only pleased to have the room to herself
+again, so that she could think the matter out. She ate her breakfast
+slowly, for time was beginning to hang on her hands. Any action was
+better than sitting there doing nothing. It was some time later when
+she crossed to the window, and looked out. She saw three men busily
+engaged in some occupation on the lawn. She saw Silva come out and
+address them, apparently in tones of expostulation, so far as she
+could judge from his actions. Then one of the men looked up, and Vera
+could see that he had noticed her. A moment later the man stooped
+down, and went through some sort of a pantomime, which, in the
+circumstances, puzzled Vera extremely. Why should that grave-looking
+official stoop down and imitate the motions of one who is stroking a
+dog?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+MOTHER AND CHILD.
+
+
+At any other time the trifling incident would have escaped Vera's
+attention. But she had nothing else to occupy her mind now. She
+wondered what it meant. There was no doubt that the official-looking
+person below was pretending to stroke a dog. There was no jest about
+it, either, because the other two men took no heed. They appeared to
+be too absorbed in their occupation. Then, all at once, the truth of
+it flashed into Vera's mind with a suddenness that left her pale and
+trembling. It was plain enough. She could not say for certain who it
+was patting and caressing an imaginary dog, but she was quite certain
+that there was a message to her behind it. In the first place the man
+had seen her at the window, of that she felt certain. And he was
+telling her as plainly as words could speak that her handkerchief had
+been found, and that Bruno led her friends to the right spot. No
+doubt, these willing assistants had assumed the guise of land
+surveyors with a view to getting a better knowledge of the house. Once
+the excitement of this discovery passed away, Vera's courage came back
+to her. She now knew that she was safe. She knew that it would not be
+long before she was restored to her friends again. She deemed it
+prudent to keep away from the window, and when at length she looked
+down again, the men were gone.
+
+There was nothing for it but to kill the dreary afternoon as best she
+could. It seemed to her that she knew every inch of her room, every
+design and pattern on the wallpaper. She would have given much for a
+book to while away the time, but, apparently, Silva had overlooked
+that requirement. As she lay back in an armchair, for the first time,
+a small, wooden trap in the ceiling attracted her attention. It seemed
+strange to Vera that she had not noticed it before. A sudden
+resolution possessed her. She balanced a couple of chairs, one on the
+other, upon the bed, and made an attempt to lift the trap. There was
+not the slightest trouble. The square of board gave to her touch at
+once. Vera thrust her head and shoulders through, and saw that she was
+immediately under the roof. A sliding glass window overhead lighted up
+the place, so that Vera could see what sort of a place she had
+discovered. Instantly she made up her mind what to do. She turned a
+yachting jersey out of one of the baskets and removed the bodice of
+her dress. A short serge skirt completed the outfit, and a few moments
+later Vera had squeezed through the trap, and was walking along the
+boards which covered the whole area of the house under the roof. What
+she was now anxious to find was a way down. Here was a large tank
+which supplied the house with water, and by the side of it a short
+iron ladder, the end of which was lost in the semi-darkness. But Vera
+had discovered enough. Doubtless the iron ladder was a permanent
+structure for the use of workmen in case anything went wrong with the
+big tank. In all probability the bottom of the iron ladder reached
+down until it joined the servants' staircase. Vera had seen
+arrangements of this kind in small country houses before.
+
+At any rate, the knowledge was worth having. Here was a clear avenue
+of escape. As soon as the house was quiet Vera would be able to steal
+away, and once outside, she would know exactly what to do. She had no
+money, but that was a mere detail.
+
+The slow hours crept on till dusk began to fall, and there had been no
+further sign from Silva. The clocks outside were striking eight when
+someone tapped at the door, and in response to Vera's query the voice
+of Silva spoke:
+
+"We are dining in half an hour," he said. "Will you be so good as to
+come down? I have unfastened the door."
+
+Vera was trembling with excitement and apprehension. She hastened to
+change her dress, and a few moments later was hurrying down the
+stairs. When she reached the hall she found Silva awaiting her. He
+looked somewhat anxious.
+
+"Your mother is in the drawing-room," he said "I hope you won't mind
+sitting down to a cold dinner. For motives of prudence we have sent
+the servants to London for an evening at the theatre. To anyone as
+intelligent as yourself you will see why we adopted such a course.
+Will you precede me?"
+
+Vera had nothing to reply. Just for the moment she was incapable of
+speech. She was wondering whether or not she would awake presently and
+find it all no more than a dream. The drawing-room was brilliantly
+lighted. A tall, dark woman stood by the fireplace. Her regular
+features appeared to be absolutely composed; but agitated though Vera
+was, she did not fail to notice the restless movements of the hands.
+Just for a few moments the two looked at one another. Then something
+like a smile came over the Countess Flavio's face.
+
+"So you are my daughter," she said. "I am afraid I should not have
+recognised you. Come closer, so that I can look at your face. Thank
+Heaven, you are not in the least like your father. I cannot be
+sufficiently thankful for that."
+
+"I have thought about you often," Vera said coldly; "but, surely, if
+you are my mother, you have a strange way of making yourself known to
+me. What is the meaning of this outrage? Surely you could have come to
+Park Lane and asked for me in the ordinary way, without sending this
+creature of yours----"
+
+Vera looked round for Silva, but he had discreetly disappeared.
+
+"I am glad that man has had the decency to leave us alone," she went
+on. "Oh, I have been thinking about this meeting all day. I do not
+know what to imagine, or what to believe. You say that you are my
+mother, but how I am to be certain that----"
+
+"I swear it," the Countess said, with a touch of passion in her voice.
+"You are my daughter beyond the shadow of a doubt. Oh, there is a deal
+in what you say, but I could not come to Lord Ravenspur's house. There
+are most urgent reasons. You are wondering, perhaps, why I have not
+been near you all these years; but I can explain. You remember nothing
+of your father, for which you can thank your Maker. With the solitary
+exception of yourself, there was not a creature on earth that he cared
+for. He was the embodiment of refined cruelty. His greatest delight
+was in the tortured degradation of others. Ah, you little guess what a
+veritable hell the two years which followed your birth were. I will
+tell you all about that some day, and you will be sorry for me. If you
+had only had my experience you would not wonder why I fled and hid
+myself when my release came. You would not wonder why I refused to see
+you, for fear you should be like your father, and remind me of him
+every hour. I was so near the borderland of insanity then that I
+should have killed you, if by one look or gesture you had reminded me
+of the man who had ruined my life. And then, when the lapse of years
+had restored my strength and vigor again, a longing to see you took
+possession of me. And when at length I had found you, or, rather, my
+faithful servant, Silva, had found you for me, there were certain
+circumstances which prevented my seeking you out at once. I was going
+to wait my time, but the man whom you call your guardian took such
+steps that I was bound to act at once. That is why I wrote you that
+letter last night. That is why you were brought here. And as to Lord
+Ravenspur, if he is lucky----"
+
+The Countess paused and bit her lips. A horrible suspicion flashed
+into Vera's mind.
+
+"You must say nothing against him," she cried. "Lord Ravenspur is one
+of the best and noblest of men."
+
+"Lord Ravenspur is a scoundrel," the Countess cried. "Yes, and before
+I have finished I am going to prove it to you. Oh, you may look
+incredulous, but I am a deeply injured woman, and that man is
+responsible for all my torture."
+
+A crimson wave stained Vera's cheeks. Here was the old suspicion back
+again with redoubled force. She would have asked the direct question
+which was trembling on her lips, but the door opened, and Silva came
+in hurriedly.
+
+"I am loth to intrude," he said, "but it is already half-past eight,
+and it is imperative that you, madam, should be back in London this
+evening. There is a train at twenty minutes past nine, which you must
+not fail to catch."
+
+Without argument, the Countess led the way across to the dining-room,
+where dinner was laid out. Vera noted with some surprise that there
+were only covers for two. She had half expected that Silva would sit
+down to table, instead of which he moved from place to place, waiting
+upon them, as if he had been accustomed to that kind of thing all his
+life. A few moments ago he had appeared to be the dictator and leader
+in everything. Now he suddenly lapsed into a perfectly respectful and
+exceedingly well-trained servant. It was not that Silva was acting a
+part. The thing was so perfectly done that Vera saw at once that this
+was the man's proper position in life. She was too excited to eat or
+drink, so that, altogether, the meal was little more than a mere
+formality.
+
+"I am sorry that I can't stay any longer," the Countess said; "I am
+bound to be in London this evening."
+
+"Then I will come with you," Vera said promptly.
+
+"No," Silva burst out sternly. "The thing is impossible. For the
+present you stay where you are. In a day or two we will make other
+arrangements with the servants, and then you can have the freedom of
+the house. The Countess will tell you that I am right."
+
+"I am afraid so," the Countess said, "unless you will give me your
+word that you will not communicate with Lord Ravenspur. You must be
+dead as far as he and his household are concerned."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
+
+
+"I cannot do it," Vera said quietly. "Forgive me if my words hurt you,
+but so far I have no evidence to prove that you are anything more than
+a mere impostor. You claim to be my mother, and perhaps you are. But
+till tonight I had no mother. For eighteen years Lord Ravenspur has
+been more than a father to me. If you can give me any satisfactory
+explanation of this plot against my safety----"
+
+"Oh, I can," the Countess cried. "Two years ago--"
+
+"Be silent!" Silva cried furiously. "I beg your pardon, madam, but I
+am forgetting myself. I will venture to remind you that your train
+will not wait."
+
+"That is quite sufficient," Vera said, with dignity. "I will return to
+my room again. Perhaps the next time I see you, you will have more
+time for an explanation."
+
+The girl turned and left the room. She walked slowly and sadly up the
+stairs, and locked herself in. It was not long before she heard the
+click of the fastening outside. She knew that she was a prisoner once
+more. It was out of the question to try and realise the meaning of all
+this extraordinary mystery. There was a certain sense of comfort in
+the knowledge that she was safe from personal violence. But, beyond
+this, there was little to light up the dreary prospect. Vera sat there
+thinking the matter over till the clock struck eleven. Then she
+glanced up at the ceiling, and stared at the trap-door long and
+thoughtfully.
+
+She could not hear a sound in the house. Doubtless Silva had retired
+long ago. Perhaps he was asleep by this time. As to the servants, they
+were probably not returning till an early hour in the morning. Vera
+calculated that the house was sufficiently far from London to make a
+return after the theatre impossible. She was going to risk it. If
+Silva caught her attempting to escape she could only return to her
+room again. She changed her dress rapidly. In the pocket of her skirt
+she placed a a box of matches and a night-light, which she found on
+the dressing-table. To get through the trap was a matter of a moment.
+With the aid of a match she found the top of the iron ladder, and when
+she had let herself down she came at length, as she had expected, to
+the top of the servants' staircase. The house was absolutely quiet,
+and plunged in darkness. Vera scarcely dared to breathe, till, at
+length, she found herself in the hall. It was tense and nervous work,
+and the girl was trembling from head to foot. She hardly dared to
+touch the bolts. She drew them back a fraction at a time. Then she
+slid off the chain; the links clicked together with a noise that
+sounded in the girl's ears almost like a pistol shot. She turned the
+handle hurriedly. One moment more, and she would be in the garden.
+
+The disappointment was swift and cruel. The door was locked, and the
+key was not there. Evidently this was no way of escape. After the
+first feeling of despair Vera shot the bolts back, and put up the
+chain once more. It was no use trying the back door, for that would
+probably be locked, and the key gone. The only possible exit was by
+way of one of the windows on the ground floor. But here again Vera was
+doomed to disappointment, for every door was fastened and every key
+had vanished.
+
+Vera blew out her night-light, and crept softly up the stairs again.
+She wondered if it were possible to open one of the bedroom windows
+and leap to the ground. Trembling in every limb she groped her way
+into one of the rooms, the door of which was open. Once more she
+ventured to strike a light. The room she was in was furnished like a
+study. Here was a large table with paper and pens and ink. The walls
+were lined with books. A strong current of air came in from somewhere;
+then Vera realised that one of the windows was open. There was a
+balcony beyond, and on to this she stepped, trying to measure with her
+eye the distance to the ground. But it was too dark for that. The risk
+was too great to take. It was like standing on the edge of a
+precipice. Vera drew back with a shudder. She really had not the
+courage for such a desperate venture. It would be far better for her
+to remain where she was until her friends came to her assistance.
+
+With this thought uppermost in her mind Vera turned back to the room
+again. A sudden gust of air from the open window extinguished the
+night-light. It was just as well, for almost at the same instant
+another door opened on the landing, and a shaft of brilliant light
+shot out. In its rays Vera could see Silva and another man who was a
+stranger to her. Silva appeared to be in high good spirits. He was
+chatting gaily to his companion.
+
+"Now you know exactly what I want," he said. "You are to wait by the
+gate till two o'clock if necessary, and when those people come along,
+you are to give me the signal. If they don't come by two o'clock, then
+we can conclude that something has interfered with their plans, and
+the thing has been postponed."
+
+"Oh, I'll do what you want," the other man said hoarsely.
+
+"I'll see that you do," Silva went on. "I suppose those fools thought
+they deceived me this morning. It was just as well that I followed
+them. Well, if they like to come here, they will be pretty sure of a
+welcome. And now I will just come and let you out, and fasten the door
+behind you. It will be fun to sit here watching till they are
+overhead, and then I shall have them in a fine trap. I am looking
+forward to it with the greatest possible pleasure. Then you had better
+meet me in London tomorrow, and I will give you the money I promised.
+Ah, my good Stevens, this is the best week's work you ever did in your
+life. A few more such jobs and you will be able to retire from your
+honorable profession."
+
+The man addressed as Stevens smiled sourly. Vera made a note of the
+name; she also made a note of the man's features. Then, as the two of
+them went down into the hall, she slipped back to her own room again
+by means of the iron ladder. Her breath was coming thick and fast, but
+her courage had returned, and she felt braced up and ready to meet any
+emergency.
+
+It was quite clear to her what was happening. As far as she herself
+was concerned, she was practically a prisoner. She could not get away
+even if she wished to. And now she had no desire to leave. Her
+instincts had been quite correct. Beyond all question the men on the
+lawn in the earlier part of the day had been her own friends. The dog
+had guided them here, and even at that moment they were probably on
+their way to effect a rescue.
+
+But they had not been quite clever enough for Silva. He had been too
+suspicious to let an incident like that pass. He had appeared to bow
+to the inevitable, but, all the same, he had followed his unwelcome
+visitors, and probably discovered their secret. And the worst of it
+was, Silva was now quite prepared for the intruders. It was
+impossible, too, for Vera to warn her friends. She racked her brains
+for some way of giving them a signal. There was only one desperate
+step to take, and she decided to risk it. Back once more she went
+until she came at length to the landing on the first floor. Her idea
+was to find out where Silva was hiding. There was a strong smell of
+cigarette smoke in the house, which appeared to come from the ground
+floor. There was only one thing for it, and that was to descend to the
+hall. Under the morning-room door there was just a thin slit of light.
+It was here that the smell of cigarette smoke was the strongest. It
+was here, no doubt, that Silva was waiting for the fray. So far as
+Vera could judge the morning-room was on one side of the house, so
+that in all probability the light would not be seen, or perhaps there
+were some heavy curtains or drapery over the window. From his own lips
+Vera knew something of what Silva's plans were. He was going to wait
+there till he had his enemies trapped overhead. He probably would not
+move till the critical moment came.
+
+It was a desperate idea, but there was nothing else for it. Vera crept
+up to the little sitting-room, and hastily dashed off a few words of
+warning which she hoped might fall into Walter's hands. She did not
+doubt for a moment that he would be one of the rescuers. It seemed
+to her that if she placed the note on the little table with the
+night-light behind it, and left the door open, it would be bound to
+attract Walter's attention. Then he would be prepared for the attack
+from below. There was practically no chance of Silva coming upstairs
+in the meantime, so that there was no reason why the little plot
+should fail. It was done at length, and then Vera again crept up the
+iron ladder to the side of the tank. But she did not return to her
+room. She knew that she was perfectly safe where she was. And,
+besides, at any moment her assistance might be of the greatest value.
+She stood there in the pitchy darkness, the leaden moments creeping on
+like so many hours.
+
+Her ears were strained to catch the slightest sound; even the trickle
+of a water-tap sounded like pistol shots. A mouse behind the wainscot
+appeared to be making noise enough to wake the dead. Then, above the
+creeping silence, came a quick snap, which was like the breaking of
+wood. Vera's heart gave a great leap. It seemed to her that the attack
+was commencing in earnest.
+
+A minute or two later and she fancied she could hear footsteps in the
+hall. But this she dismissed as mere fancy. She could hear the trees
+rustling outside as they swayed to a sudden breeze. She hoped the wind
+would not be strong enough to blow out her night-light. She wished now
+that she had closed the window. Then she jumped with a nervous start
+as a door banged like the thud of artillery. She heard a quick, sharp
+cry, and then the laboured breathing as if two men were locked in a
+struggle to the death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND.
+
+
+Outside in the garden, under cover of the darkness, Ravenspur and his
+companion waited anxiously for a sign from Walter. The minutes crept
+slowly on. Still there was nothing to break the silence. A quarter of
+an hour passed, and at length Ravenspur began to feel decidedly
+anxious.
+
+"I don't like it," he murmured; "I don't like it a bit. We have an
+exceedingly cunning scoundrel to deal with, and a bloodthirsty one
+into the bargain. That man would not stick at anything. I can't
+understand how it is that Walter doesn't open the door."
+
+Venables made no reply. As a matter of fact, he was not a whit less
+anxious than Ravenspur. Still the minutes crept on, and still there
+was no sign from the interior of the house. Then at last came a faint,
+dull report, which might either have been the closing of a door, or
+the muffled echo of a pistol shot. Before Venables could reply he felt
+something damp and cold against his hand. His nerves were now at high
+tension. He jumped quickly back, and looked down. A great hound stood
+there waving his long tail from side to side and looking up into
+Ravenspur's face as if not altogether sure as to his presence being
+welcome.
+
+"Call him off," Venables said excitedly. "The brute is dangerous. By
+Jove, what a fool I am! I thought at first that this was one of our
+friend Valdo's bodyguard, but I see now that it is your dog, Lord
+Ravenspur. I suppose he has managed to get away again."
+
+"Oh, it's Bruno right enough," Ravenspur said. "Probably Perks
+fastened him up insecurely. But he must not be allowed to roam about
+here. Do you happen to have a dog collar and chain in your pocket,
+Perks? If so, I'll go and chain him up to one of those trees by the
+side of the lane."
+
+Perks grinned, and produced the necessary collar and lead. In the
+course of his business he rarely travelled without one of these,
+though he looked dubiously at the leather strap, and opined that is
+was not much good for so great a beast as Bruno.
+
+"I think that will be all right," Lord Ravenspur said. "The dog is
+well trained, and if I tell him to stop there I am sure he will. At
+any rate, I don't suppose he will move until we have this business
+finished. Now, come along, sir."
+
+The great beast trotted along, more or less dejectedly, by his
+master's side, and a moment or two later he was lying at the foot of a
+small tree just by the gate leading to the lane. Ravenspur hurried
+back to his companions. He had hoped by this time that something had
+happened. He was seriously alarmed to find the house still in
+darkness, and no sign of Walter anywhere.
+
+"This is very disturbing," he said. "Don't you think one of you had
+better go inside and see what has become of my nephew? If that man
+there has done him any violence----"
+
+"I don't think so," Venables interrupted. "After all, the man we are
+looking for is no fool, and he would most assuredly avoid violence if
+possible. My dear Lord Ravenspur, you surely did not expect to find
+Miss Rayne by simply opening the door and going through the house? For
+my part, I regard this business as only just beginning, and I shall be
+very much surprised if Miss Rayne is in the house at all. Besides,
+this man Valdo is certain to be prepared for emergencies of this kind.
+Suppose he found Walter, and asked him what he was doing there?
+Suppose he insisted upon showing him all over the house? We will
+assume that he has proved to Lance that Miss Rayne is not there. He
+would enjoy that immensely. It would give him far more pleasure than
+any personal violence. And besides, Walter is quite capable of taking
+care of himself. Really, we must risk it a little longer. Any undue
+haste now would ruin our plans."
+
+Sorely against his convictions Ravenspur allowed the point to pass. A
+quarter of an hour had elapsed now, and there was no sign of Walter.
+Ravenspur was about to speak again when suddenly from the lane came
+something in the way of a diversion. A man's voice was raised in
+terror, a frightened scream for help rent the air. As the cry died
+away, a deep growl of the dog was heard. Without a moment's hesitation
+Ravenspur rushed away down the garden and in the direction of the
+lane.
+
+"There's no time to be lost," he cried. "Come along. Unless I am
+greatly mistaken, Bruno has got hold of some unfortunate wayfarer on
+his way home."
+
+It turned out to be exactly as Lord Ravenspur had prophesied. When
+Perks came up, and turned his lantern on the scene, the outline of a
+man's body came into view. The unfortunate individual was lying on his
+back, the great hound was standing over him, his crest erect, his
+formidable row of teeth glistening in the light. At one word from lord
+Ravenspur the dog crouched down, and the stranger, trembling with
+fright in every limb, was dragged to his feet. Something like a
+chuckle burst from Perks' lips.
+
+"You seem to be enjoying yourself, John," he said.
+
+"I thought the brute was going to tear the throat out of me," the
+stranger said. "I came down here on business----"
+
+"What business?" Venables said curtly. "Here, Perks, hold that light a
+bit higher up so that I can see the fellow's face. Does he happen to
+be a friend of yours?"
+
+"We've done a bit of business together," Perks said significantly.
+"Otherwise, he is not what I would call a friend of mine. He was over
+at my place early this morning, but I thought he had gone back to town
+again. What are you looking about here for, John?"
+
+"That's my business," the other said sullenly. "The man who fastened
+that dog up there so close to the lane ought to have six months. I
+don't know who he belongs to."
+
+"He belongs to me," Lord Ravenspur explained. "There is one thing I
+will vouch for--if you hadn't been coming into the garden, that dog
+would never have touched you. It is no business of mine to ask what
+you are doing here, for I don't suppose you would tell me if I did.
+However, it seems to me----"
+
+"No; but I can tell you," Venables put in. "This, Lord Ravenspur, is
+the man John Stevens who gave evidence at the inquest on Louis
+Delahay. He was the man who saw Mrs. Delahay with her husband in
+Fitzjohn Square that morning. He knows Valdo exceedingly well, and no
+doubt he is down here on the latter's business. If you ask him, he
+will hardly venture to deny it."
+
+"I don't know what you are talking about," Stevens stammered.
+
+"Oh, yes, you do," Venables went on. "You will say presently that you
+have never seen me before. You are a treacherous rascal, and evidently
+you are not in the least to be relied upon. I told you that it would
+pay you to join me, and I suppose your idea is to get money from both
+parties. This is no time to waste on incriminations. This man is a spy
+of Valdo's, Lord Ravenspur. Evidently he is here to watch our
+movements. We can't trust him. We can't let him out of our sight. The
+question is, what are we going to do with him?"
+
+"You just leave me alone or it will be the worse for you," Stevens
+blustered. "I am not the man----"
+
+Before Stevens could finish his speech he was jerked violently
+backwards by Perks, and turned over on his face. In less time than it
+takes to tell, his hands were bound behind his back with a couple of
+straps, and his feet were fastened together with the aid of some
+handkerchiefs which Perks borrowed from his companion. The thing was
+dexterously done, so that Stevens lay there on his back, swearing
+hotly at Perks, and threatening him with what was likely to happen
+when his time came.
+
+"Oh, that's all right," Perks said cheerfully; "don't you be a fool,
+John. It will pay you much better to play the square game with these
+gentlemen, and as to your threats, why, they don't worry me. You talk
+about splitting. Why, you dare not go within a mile of a police
+station. And a nice witness before magistrates you would make. No, my
+lad; there is no chance of your doing me any harm unless you are
+prepared to stand in the dock by my side. Now, come along, and we'll
+get it over."
+
+"What are you going to do with him?" Ravenspur asked.
+
+"Oh, that is an easy one," Perks grinned cheerfully. "We'll just carry
+him as far as the common, and dump him down on a nice bed of bracken
+where he can pass the time studying astronomy. I haven't any fear that
+he can get rid of these bandages. When everything is settled, I'll
+come back and fetch him. Then I can take him home, and give him some
+breakfast. He won't bear any malice. That is a very good point about
+John Stevens: he never bears malice for long. As a matter of fact, he
+ain't got pluck enough."
+
+Stevens was dumped unceremoniously down upon the bracken, and the
+little party went back to the house. Lord Ravenspur had forgotten all
+about Walter for the moment. His mind had reverted to the murder in
+Fitzjohn Square. He was thinking of Delahay and certain fresh facts
+which had recently come to light. He allowed Venables to precede him.
+Then he drew Perks aside for a moment.
+
+"I am going to ask you a question," he said, "and I hope you will
+answer it straightforwardly. I will see that no harm comes to you.
+And, indeed, in any case it will be to your advantage to be candid.
+Have you had any dealings lately with this man Stevens? You know what
+I mean. Have you bought anything from him for which you paid without
+asking any questions?"
+
+"Only this very morning, sir," Perks admitted cheerfully. "To tell you
+the truth, that little thing what you gave me a sovereign for was
+amongst the lot. And now I have said it. I am a fool to tell you this,
+but you gave me your word, sir----"
+
+"That is all right," Ravenspur said. "I shall keep it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+IN THE HOUSE.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Walter was standing there in pitch darkness, utterly at a
+loss what to do next. He had no light to guide him. He had not the
+remotest idea in which direction the door lay. He took a step or two
+forward, with outstretched hands, until his fingers touched the wall.
+There were so many unfamiliar objects here that it was some little
+time before he felt his way with his finger-tips to the door. He found
+it at length, and the knob yielded to his touch. No sooner was he in
+the corridor than a dazzling flash confused and mystified him. Before
+he could realise what had happened the light was gone, and a pair of
+strong, sinewy arms were about his neck. He was taken utterly at a
+disadvantage. Walter swayed backwards. He fell with a resounding crash
+on the floor. A million stars danced before his eyes, and then he
+remembered no more.
+
+When he came to himself again he was lying in an armchair, to which he
+was fastened by a maze of cords, wound cunningly about him. As his
+head became clear and less confused, he realised that he was in a kind
+of library, the walls of which were lined with books. Opposite him
+Silva was seated, with a placid smile upon his face.
+
+"I think we have met before," he said.
+
+"I have had that advantage," Walter said grimly. "And now you will,
+perhaps, be good enough to explain what you mean----"
+
+"No," Silva hissed. A sudden anger flamed out of his eyes. "On the
+other hand, the explanation comes from you. For the time being, at any
+rate, this house is mine. I have paid for it, and I propose to spend
+my time quietly here for the next month or two. I am hardly settled
+down here before you come along in this unceremonious fashion and
+burgle the place. Why?"
+
+"That you know quite as well as I do," Walter retorted. "Really, you
+are a man of amazing audacity. Now don't you know that the law
+punishes people severely for this kind of thing?"
+
+"And what kind of thing do you allude to?"
+
+"Why should you assume ignorance in that way? You know perfectly well
+what I mean. To my certain knowledge you have made three attempts on
+the life of Lord Ravenspur, and even that does not seem to be
+sufficient. Last night you managed to lure Miss Vera Rayne away from
+London, and she is in this house at the present moment. That she is
+detained here against her will I feel certain."
+
+"Oh, indeed," Silva sneered. "Would you like to search the house? If I
+give you permission to go over the premises, will you be prepared to
+apologise and go away without further delay?"
+
+A cold chill crept up Walter's spine. The man spoke with such an air
+of confidence and triumph that Walter began to feel that the mission
+had failed. Beyond all question, Silva had discovered the plot, and
+already he had managed to get Vera out of the way. The Italian could
+not be acting. His air was too assured for that.
+
+"We need not say anything about apologies," Walter said; "but if you
+can prove to me that Miss Rayne is not in the house, why, then, for
+the present, at any rate, I will not trouble you."
+
+"That is very good of you," Silva sneered. He rose from his chair and
+paced up and down the room. "You have seen quite enough of me, sir, to
+give me credit for not being altogether a fool. That was a very pretty
+scheme which you put up this morning. And, really, your disguises were
+quite artistic. I will go so far as to say that, in ordinary
+circumstances, they would have utterly puzzled me; but, then, I am
+suspicious by nature. I regard it as more than a coincidence that
+three strangers should come into my garden the very morning after I
+had----"
+
+"Abducted Miss Rayne," Walter said, as Silva hesitated. "Why make any
+bones about it? We know that Miss Rayne came here. We, on our side,
+are not altogether without intelligence."
+
+"You are worthy antagonists," Silva said, with a sarcastic bow. "We
+will assume, for the sake of argument, that Miss Rayne was here this
+morning, though, mark you, I do not admit it. Then, three strangers
+come and make free with my garden. It is possible, of course, that
+they are telling the truth, and that they are honest men, devoted to
+the interests of their country. But, at the same time, I asked myself
+a question. Then I followed these gentlemen, and by the time I
+returned home I had a pretty shrewd idea who they were and what they
+were after. How my suspicions are justified is proved by your presence
+here this evening. Did you come alone?"
+
+"That you must discover for yourself," Walter said.
+
+The Italian's features suddenly darkened. He paused so close to Walter
+that the latter could see the dilation of the pupils of his eyes. He
+shook with a spasm of fury.
+
+"I have no quarrel with you," he whispered hoarsely. "You are a fine
+fellow, and I give you all the credit for your courage. But if you
+persist in bringing yourself within the sphere of danger, then you
+must take the consequences. Do you suppose for a moment that I am
+afraid of my own life? Do you suppose that I care what happens when my
+mission is accomplished? That mission is sacred to me as your good
+name and religion are sacred to you. A man is to be removed, and when
+he is out of the way my task is done. There is a proverb amongst you
+English that it is as well to be hung for a sheep as a lamb, and no
+man can hang more than once, though he has a dozen murders to his
+account. Therefore, if you stand in the way, I shall have no
+hesitation in sweeping you aside. Now go away and trouble me no more.
+You will never see Miss Rayne again. In a few hours from now she will
+be in the custody of the proper person to safeguard her interests--her
+mother."
+
+A retort trembled on Walter's lips, but he restrained himself.
+
+"I am going to give you every opportunity," Silva went on. "I trust to
+your honour. See here."
+
+He whipped a knife from his pocket, and just for a second Walter's
+courage was tried high; but the Italian meant no harm. He advanced and
+cut the cords, so that a moment later Walter was free. It was
+impossible for the latter to know what was going on in the mind of his
+companion. He did not know that a sudden inspiration had come to
+Silva, and that the Italian had changed his mind. For the first few
+minutes Valdo had recognised that he stood in a position of
+considerable peril. Though he had suspected his visitors of the early
+morning, he was lying to Walter when he declared that he had
+discovered their identity. It was easy to be wise after the fact, and
+Silva was taking every advantage of it. In his heart of hearts he
+really had not expected anything quite so prompt as this. He could now
+see his danger. If Walter was alone, then so far so good; but if there
+were others outside the house, then Silva was more or less in a trap.
+The others might rush in at any moment and hand him over to the
+police. Once in their hands, his fate was certain. He would be charged
+with those attempts on the life of Lord Ravenspur. In all probability
+he would be sentenced to a term of imprisonment, which would result in
+his death within the walls of a gaol.
+
+But now, as time was going on, and there was no sign of disturbance
+outside, Silva began to feel that he had only one man to deal with. It
+would not be a difficult matter to persuade Walter and to prove to him
+that Vera was no longer in the house, and the cunning Italian knew
+perfectly well that his skin was safe until Lord Ravenspur and the
+others were satisfied that the girl had come to no harm.
+
+"We are on even terms again now," Silva went on. "In fact, the odds
+are in your favour. I am not armed, and you are a stronger man than
+myself. If you will wait a few moments I will go and get a candle, and
+then you shall see for yourself that Miss Rayne is not in the house."
+
+"I am sorry," Walter said coldly; "but I should prefer to accompany
+you. Your word is hardly sufficient."
+
+Silva's eyes flashed, but he said nothing. The silence was getting
+awkward when, at length, the Italian spoke once more.
+
+"There is a candle outside on the landing," he said. "I will go and
+fetch it. You will be able to see me all the way there and back. You
+English are suspicious."
+
+Silva threw the door wide open and strode out into the corridor. As he
+struck a match and lighted the candle, Walter could dimly see up the
+next flight of stairs. It was only for a moment, but he distinctly saw
+the outline of a figure there, and a signal made by the waving of a
+white arm. It was with difficulty that he repressed a cry. He now knew
+that the Italian had been lying to him, and that Vera was in the
+house. When he glanced up again the figure had vanished, and Walter
+dropped into the easy chair again. It seemed to him that there was
+something in the signal which bade him to be cautious. Otherwise, what
+was to prevent Vera coming down the stairs and appealing to Walter for
+his protection?
+
+Silva was, apparently, a long time getting the candle to burn to his
+satisfaction. He seemed to be occupied in his task to the exclusion of
+everything else. But there was a queer smile upon his face, for he had
+turned in an unfortunate moment, and his quick eye had detected the
+figure at the top of the stairs. In those few seconds he had made up
+his mind what to do. When he came back into the library again there
+was something like a smile on his face. He placed the candle on the
+table.
+
+"And now, sir," he said almost gaily, "before I proceed to satisfy you
+that your suspicions are unfounded, permit me to offer you my
+hospitality. I don't know how you feel, but you look rather shaken,
+and I must apologise for the way in which I threw you a little time
+ago; but you see, the average burglar is by no means a welcome guest,
+and he has no right to expect to be received with open arms. I must
+insist upon your accompanying me as far as the dining-room, so that I
+may give you a glass of wine."
+
+Walter hesitated, but only for a moment. He was feeling more shaken
+and battered than he cared to own. Every now and again things grew
+misty before his eyes, a feeling of deadly faintness came upon him. It
+seemed hours since he entered the house, though little more than ten
+minutes had elapsed. He knew, too, that he had a great fight before
+him yet with this wily unscrupulous rascal. Silva must have some great
+card up his sleeve, or he would not have so gaily denied that Vera was
+in the house, when all the time she was close at hand. On the whole,
+Walter decided that he would be all the better for accepting Silva's
+offer.
+
+"That is very thoughtful of you," he said. "I shall be very glad of a
+stimulant of some kind."
+
+Once in the dining-room, Silva took a decanter from the sideboard and
+poured out a glass of port. Walter took it almost greedily and gulped
+it down at a draught. The wine seemed to soothe him. He sank down in a
+chair with his hands over his eyes, and, before he knew where he was,
+he had sunk into a deep sleep. As Silva bent over the unconscious body
+a hoarse laugh broke from his lips. Then something seemed to sting and
+burn his cheek. He started back, to see Vera standing before him.
+
+"You scoundrel!" she cried. "You have murdered him!"
+
+In her anger she cast all fear aside. She caught up a heavy decanter
+from the sideboard and sent it crashing through the window. The whole
+house rang with her cries for assistance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+THE HOUND AGAIN.
+
+
+The clamour ceased. Just for a moment an intense silence followed.
+Then there came the murmur of voices from without and the crash of
+splintering wood. Silva cursed himself for his folly. He had been so
+convinced that Walter had come alone that he had not looked for this.
+There was no time to be lost. Silva caught Vera as if she had been a
+feather-weight, and ran with her swiftly up the stairs. It was the
+work of a moment to unlock a door, thrust her inside, and then fasten
+the door once more. No sooner was this done than Silva was downstairs
+again, with his hand on the lock of the back entrance of the house.
+All this time he could hear the steady splintering of wood as an
+effort was being made to force one of the drawing-room windows. Silva
+smiled to himself, for here was the delay which was so essential to
+him. Once the attackers were in the drawing-room, there would yet be
+another door to force before they were upon him. He wished with all
+his heart that he had his revolver with him. But, then, he had not
+expected so swift a vengeance as this, and he had come down from town
+without any weapon at all. Still, it was idle to waste time in these
+regrets, seeing that there was other and stern work before him.
+
+The back entrance of the house was opened at last, and Silva sped back
+to the dining-room. He half dragged, half carried Walter's unconscious
+body down the garden path, until he reached a bed of asparagus, where
+he deposited his burden. Panting with his exertions, he came back
+again to the house. He wiped the beads of perspiration from his face.
+He reached eagerly for a glass of wine, but not from the same decanter
+from which he had helped Walter. Then he sat down coolly enough to
+smoke a cigarette till the enemy should put in an appearance. A
+succession of sounds like pistol shots testified to the attack on the
+drawing-room door, and a moment later the attacking force burst into
+the dining-room.
+
+"This is an unexpected pleasure," Silva said, with a smile. "But why
+have you not come in the ordinary way? And now, perhaps, you will be
+good enough to tell me what you are after?"
+
+"You are wasting our time," Lord Ravenspur said sternly. "We are in
+search of Miss Vera Rayne, as you know perfectly well. There is not
+the slightest occasion to lie about it, because I heard her voice just
+now. Take us to her at once."
+
+"Your lordship's hearing is remarkably good," Silva sneered; "but the
+scream of one angry woman is so like that of another that I am not
+prepared to agree with your statement. However, as I appear to be only
+one to three of you, I suppose you will have your own way and search
+the house."
+
+"That most assuredly," Venables put in.
+
+"Then I will make no attempt to stop you. I will stay here while you
+make your search, and perhaps when you have found out that you are
+mistaken you will apologise to me."
+
+The speaker was perfectly cool and self possessed. With a wave of his
+hand he intimated that the house was quite at the disposal of the
+intruders. He sat there with his legs crossed, apparently in the
+enjoyment of a cigarette; but when once the party had scattered his
+attitude changed entirely. He darted across the hall and out into the
+garden. His task was not yet finished. There was a deal to do before
+he could face his enemies again. He was not a bit downcast, though his
+plot had partially failed, and though he knew now that before long
+Vera Rayne would be in the hands of her friends again. All he thirsted
+for now was a weapon by which he could take the vengeance for which he
+had panted all these years. Slowly he dragged the unconscious body of
+his victim in the direction of the little gate leading to the lane.
+
+Meanwhile, Ravenspur and his companions were scattered over the house.
+Ravenspur called Vera by name, and, to his great joy and relief, he
+heard her answering cry from behind one of the bedroom doors. He was
+not surprised to find the door locked. But that did not much matter
+now. Ravenspur flung himself against the woodwork, and the door gave
+way with a crash. Then Vera rushed out and threw herself, sobbing
+hysterically, into his arms.
+
+"Never mind me," she cried. "Save him!"
+
+"Of whom are you speaking?" Ravenspur asked.
+
+"Why, Walter, of course," Vera went on. "I believe that dreadful man
+poisoned him. He lured Walter into the dining-room and gave him a
+glass of wine, and when I got there, he . . . Oh, it was too dreadful!
+Then I broke the window and screamed for assistance, and you came in."
+
+Ravenspur listened uneasily. In the excitement of the moment he had
+forgotten all about Walter.
+
+"Try and calm yourself," he said. "So much depends upon you now. Tell
+me all that happened."
+
+"I came down with that man last night," Vera said. "He brought me a
+letter from my mother. I wanted to come, and I didn't want to come. I
+think you will be able to understand my feelings. Then two of them
+drugged me and carried me down here. It has been a dreadful time. I
+began to hope this morning, when I saw you in the garden, and Walter
+gave me a kind of sign. I felt quite sure then that you were not far
+off, and the knowledge gave me courage. I was locked up in a room at
+the top of the house, but I managed to escape through a trap-door, and
+I was actually on the landing in the darkness when Walter came. He was
+taken utterly by surprise by this man Silva, and I am sure that he was
+terribly knocked about and shaken by a fall that he had had. Then I
+managed to let Walter know that I was in the house. It was a daring
+thing to do, and Silva must have seen it, though I did not think so at
+the moment. After that he got Walter downstairs, under pretence of
+giving him a glass of wine, and then he poisoned him. Oh, I am so
+distracted that I hardly know what I am speaking about. It is dreadful
+to think----"
+
+"I am quite sure you are mistaken," Ravenspur said. "This man Silva
+has no quarrel with Walter, and when we come to get at the truth you
+will find that there is no greater mischief than a comparatively
+harmless drug. But where is Walter? Drugged or not, he certainly was
+not in the dining-room when we got there just now."
+
+"But he must be," Vera protested. "I saw him lying in an armchair, to
+all appearances dead."
+
+Ravenspur wasted no time in further argument. He went straight back to
+the dining-room, but no signs of Walter were to be seen. Silva had
+disappeared also. A strong draught was blowing from the open back
+door. Ravenspur began to understand pretty well what had taken place.
+He turned eagerly to Vera.
+
+"Come along with me," he exclaimed. "We are going into the garden. I
+shall not be in the least surprised to find that Silva has dragged
+Walter out there. He would have had plenty of time when we were
+breaking into the house. I understand he is a man of considerable
+personal strength. Depend upon it, we shall find him somewhere here.
+Don't be discouraged."
+
+Vera was doing her best to keep from breaking down altogether. There
+was something peculiarly horrible in the suggestion that her lover's
+body was lying out there stark and stiff in the darkness. The fresh
+breeze blew gratefully on her face. She began to feel a little more
+like herself again.
+
+"We will get Perks here with his lantern presently," Lord Ravenspur
+said. "Keep as near to the path as possible. If that fellow happens to
+have a knife and sees me here, why----"
+
+It was Lord Ravenspur's turn to shudder now, but he kept bravely on.
+He opened his mouth to speak again, when, suddenly a snarling roar
+like that of an angry lion broke out, followed by the shrill scream of
+a human voice, calling in the last extremity of agony. At the dreadful
+sound, Vera stood still.
+
+"It is Bruno," Lord Ravenspur said hoarsely. "The dog is utterly out
+of control. He has got hold of that Italian to a certainty. There may
+be time to save his life yet."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+BROKEN WINGS.
+
+
+The hoarse yell for assistance rose yet again, this time more feeble
+than before. It was horrible to stand there in the darkness, looking
+helplessly around and trying to locate the direction from which the
+call came. It was horrible, too, to listen to the mumbling and
+snarling of the dog, just as if he were worrying a bone. Vera clung
+terrified to Lord Ravenspur. It was in vain that the latter whistled
+and called to the dog.
+
+"We must have a light here," he said hoarsely. "There is no other way
+of discovering where the trouble lies. Fool that I was not to think of
+it before. That man, Perks, has a lantern."
+
+Ravenspur strode back to the house again, and yelled aloud for Perks
+and his lantern.
+
+"What is wrong?" Venables demanded.
+
+"Oh, you'll see soon enough," Ravenspur said grimly. "For heaven's
+sake, bring Perks here with the lantern. Unless I am greatly mistaken,
+our troubles are over as far as the Italian is concerned. Bruno has
+got hold of him."
+
+They all raced together down the garden path in the direction of the
+gate. There was no mistaking where the trouble lay, for that mumbling
+snarl was close at hand now. It seemed to proceed from the foot of a
+tree. Even Perks, hardened as he was, shuddered and turned pale as the
+shining disc of the lantern showed a picture so horrible and revolting
+that Perks staggered back.
+
+"Take the young lady away sir," he said. "This is no place for her.
+You go back to the house, and leave Lord Ravenspur to carry this poor
+chap back again. We can't tackle the dog unless there is someone here
+who knows him."
+
+One glance at the prostrate body, and Venables turned away without
+further question. Obviously Perks was right, and assuredly it was no
+place for Vera. Silva lay there on the broad of his back, his arms
+thrown out, and crouched upon his body was the enormous weight of the
+dog. The pressure in itself was enough to cause suffocation. But the
+mischief lay in the terrible gash in the throat where the hound's
+teeth had met. Bruno crouched there now with evil, bloodshot eyes; a
+long, deep terrifying growl came steadily and persistently. Perks drew
+cautiously near.
+
+"Well, if this doesn't beat everything," he said. "Why, there are two
+bodies. One of them is Mr. Lance."
+
+"That is the cause of all the mischief, as you will see presently,"
+Ravenspur explained. "Never mind about my nephew for a moment. Unless
+I am greatly mistaken, there is very little the matter with him. But
+this poor fellow is in a different condition altogether."
+
+As he spoke, Ravenspur stepped forward, and gave Bruno a tremendous
+blow with a stick which he had pulled from the hedge-side. At the same
+time he uttered a few words in a harsh tone, and immediately the dog
+slunk away and crossed the road. His tail was between his legs now,
+his attitude one of deep dejection.
+
+"I will deal with him presently," Ravenspur went on. "You take the
+head, and I'll take the feet, and we'll get this poor fellow back to
+the house again. It is a terrible business altogether, but, mind you,
+that dog is not very much to blame. As far as I can make out, what has
+happened is this: Silva managed to drug my nephew, and was getting his
+body out of the way when he accidentally came in contact with the dog.
+And if there is one human being more than another to whom Bruno is
+devoted, that person is my nephew. The dog would scent him at once,
+and--well, the rest you can imagine."
+
+They conveyed the unconscious body of Silva upstairs, and laid him on
+a bed. Once Walter had been brought under cover also, there was only
+one thing to be done, and that was to send for a doctor without delay.
+It was obvious enough to Ravenspur and his companions that Silva's
+wounds were exceedingly critical. The throat seemed to be almost
+bitten away. The man had lost a deal of blood. He lay there absolutely
+unconscious. His swarthy features were deadly pale. It was impossible
+to say whether he breathed or not.
+
+"You leave the doctor to me," Perks said. "I know the neighbourhood. I
+can be back here well within the hour."
+
+The doctor came at length. He shook his head seriously after he had
+made his examination.
+
+"Oh, of course, recovery is possible," he said; "whilst there is life
+there is always hope. But if this man pulls round it will be little
+less than a miracle. How did it happen?"
+
+There was nothing for it but to explain. After all, it would be more
+or less impossible to avoid the scandal now. But nothing was said as
+to the real cause of the accident, nor did Ravenspur deem it prudent
+to ask the doctor's advice as to the best thing to do with Walter.
+
+"Will the poor fellow recover consciousness?" he asked.
+
+"That is quite possible," the doctor replied. "He has a splendid
+constitution, and possibly may linger on for some days. He can take no
+direct nourishment, of course. But medical science can do so much
+now-a-days in the way of injections. I shouldn't be at all surprised
+if my patient were able to give an account of what has happened. But
+in all human probability, he will be in his grave before the week is
+out. And now, will you leave it to me to obtain a nurse, or would you
+like to send one of your own?"
+
+On the whole, it would be better to leave it to the doctor, Ravenspur
+thought. An hour or so passed, and the nurse was established in the
+sick-room. It was now getting towards daylight, but no one thought
+of rest or sleep. There was nothing for it but to make the best of
+the extraordinary situation; nothing for it but to remain where they
+were and explain as well as they could to the servants when they came
+back in the morning. Vera flung herself down upon a couch in the
+drawing-room, and closed her eyes. She was tired and worn out, though
+it seemed to her that sleep was impossible. Nevertheless, when she
+came to herself again the sunshine was streaming into the room, the
+birds were singing noisily in the trees outside. On the lawn Ravenspur
+was walking up and down in grave consultation with Venables. Presently
+Vera saw Walter join the group. He looked dreadfully white and
+haggard; his head was bent, and his step was shaky. A thrill of
+thankfulness passed over her. She had never hoped to see him walk
+again. As Vera left the drawing-room and crossed the hall, a
+maidservant looked at her curiously. Vera advanced with a smile.
+
+"I am afraid we have greatly distressed you," she said. "But perhaps
+you already know exactly what has happened?"
+
+"His lordship explained to me, miss," the girl said timidly. "I
+understand that my new master is a friend of yours. You were coming
+down to see him, and a great dog attacked him."
+
+"Yes; that is so," Vera said, relieved to find that she had to make no
+prevarication. "And now, if you will be so good, you might show me to
+a bedroom where I can wash."
+
+The maid seemed to anticipate such a request, for she led the way up
+the stairs to one of the bedrooms. Vera wondered what the maid would
+have said could she only have looked into the room at the top of the
+house under the roof. Feeling much fresher and brighter from the touch
+of cold water, Vera went down and joined the other two in the garden.
+
+"I am glad to see you looking none the worse for your adventure,"
+Ravenspur said. "I have managed to convince the servants that our
+appearance here is quite natural. One had to tell a few falsehoods,
+but in the circumstances it was necessary. Still, servants are
+suspicious creatures, and I don't want their curiosity to go too far.
+Already they are wondering where the mistress of the house is, so that
+there is no help for it, and we must have your mother here without
+delay. Do you happen to know her London address?"
+
+"No; I don't," Vera replied. "I saw her for an hour last night."
+
+"What, down here?" Walter exclaimed.
+
+"Yes; she came here on purpose to see me. She only stayed a little
+time, because I understood that it was necessary for her to be back in
+London again. But I would rather not talk about that if you don't
+mind. You will quite understand why."
+
+Walter murmured something in reply. Then his face brightened.
+
+"You are quite right, uncle," he said. "It is absolutely necessary
+that the Countess Flavio should be here at once. We can get her
+address from Mrs. Delahay. If you like I will go up myself."
+
+"Do you feel equal to it?" Vera asked anxiously.
+
+"Oh, I'm all right now," Walter said, "with the exception of a certain
+shakiness and a splitting headache. It must have been a pretty severe
+dose that our interesting friend gave me last night. But I don't think
+there is any occasion to worry about me."
+
+"Then we will have some breakfast, and get up to London at once,"
+Venables said, in his quick, decisive fashion. "We can leave Lord
+Ravenspur and Miss Rayne here till we come back. I don't think that
+Lord Ravenspur has anything to fear from his enemy now."
+
+Breakfast was despatched without delay, and immediately Venables and
+Walter left for London. The house was now quiet and still, for as yet
+practically nothing was known as to the cause of Silva's action, and
+public curiosity still slept.
+
+It was some time after luncheon before Vera had a chance of speaking
+to the nurse, with an inquiry as to how the patient was getting on.
+The nurse smiled in reply.
+
+"He is slightly better," she explained; "in fact, he is as well as he
+is likely to be. He has been conscious for the last half hour. He
+seems to want something, only I can't understand what it is. We may be
+able to find out when the doctor comes."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+A RAY OF LIGHT.
+
+
+It was no difficult matter to find Mrs. Delahay, who, when the late
+startling developments were laid before her, made no demur in giving
+her sister's address. Maria Delahay was looking just as pale and
+haggard as usual. It seemed impossible to rouse her from the state of
+apathy into which she had fallen. When the two friends were standing
+on the steps of the hotel they ran against Inspector Dallas.
+
+"Any fresh news?" Walter asked.
+
+"Well, no," Dallas admitted. "I am simply waiting on events at
+present. If you could only get Mrs. Delahay to be more candid with me
+it might save her a deal of unpleasantness in the long run."
+
+"Do you mean that she is in danger?" Venables asked.
+
+"I think you can see that for yourself, sir," Dallas replied.
+"Naturally, I am hesitating as long as possible----"
+
+"Then hesitate a little longer," Walter said. "Quite by accident Lord
+Ravenspur has stumbled upon a clue which I think will astonish you
+when you come to know his story. We are going off now to a place
+called Cannon Green. We shall probably be back by the last train
+tonight, and I want you to meet us at Waterloo Station. I think you
+will be well rewarded for your trouble."
+
+Dallas promised, and, like the wise man he was, asked no questions.
+The two companions proceeded in a cab to Isleworth Road, where they
+asked to see the mistress of the house. The maid who answered the door
+was somewhat reticent, but she admitted that her mistress was at home,
+whereupon Walter and his companion entered without further ceremony.
+Perhaps their manner impressed the maid, for she came back a moment
+later saying that her mistress would see the visitors. The Countess
+entered the drawing-room and glanced with cold displeasure at the
+intruders.
+
+"What can you possibly want with me?" she demanded.
+
+"Perhaps I had better explain," Walter began. "My name is Lance, and I
+am a nephew of Lord Ravenspur. Lord Ravenspur has a ward who is called
+Miss Vera Rayne. In other words, I understand that Miss Rayne is
+really your daughter."
+
+The Countess's cold face flushed slightly.
+
+"I am not prepared to contradict you," she said.
+
+"My dear madam," Walter said, "this is no time for diplomacy. Rightly
+or wrongly, my uncle came to Italy eighteen years ago and kidnapped
+your daughter. You see, I am quite candid, and I hope you will be good
+enough to be as candid in your replies. My uncle will himself explain
+why he took this bold step, but I understand that your late husband
+did not consider you a desirable parent for a child, and he made my
+uncle promise to remove the child from your influence. Into the
+morality of that question I am not disposed to go. For nearly eighteen
+years nothing happened, and my uncle began to regard Vera quite as his
+own child. Then the truth came out, and some emissary of yours came to
+England, prepared to go to any length to regain possession of your
+daughter. I need not say I am alluding to the man called Silva, also
+known to many people as Valdo, the flying man. This servant of yours
+made no fewer than three attacks on my uncle's life, none of which,
+fortunately, was successful. And then, I understand, you came on the
+scene. I believe you were instrumental in luring your daughter from
+Lady Kingmar's the night before last, and getting her imprisoned at a
+place called Cannon Green. One moment, please. I would not deny it, if
+I were you----"
+
+"I am not going to deny it," the Countess said in a hard, dry voice.
+"There is no occasion to."
+
+"Ah, well, that being so, we shall get on all the better. Directly we
+discovered what had happened we set off in pursuit, fortunately aided
+by a bloodhound of my uncle's, who had followed us to Lady Ringmar's
+from Park Lane. To make a long story short, we broke into the house,
+and Miss Rayne is once more under the protection of Lord Ravenspur.
+But your man, Silva, does not lack resource, and he managed to drug me
+and drag me out into the garden. Unfortunately for him, the dog was
+prowling about, and, knowing me and recognising my peril, he made a
+furious attack upon Silva, with the result that your friend lies in a
+critical condition and is not expected to live. After what I have told
+you, I think you will see the necessity of coming down to Cannon Green
+with us without delay."
+
+During this recital the Countess made no sign. She listened with a
+calmness and unconcern which moved Walter to anger. After all,
+whatever Silva's faults might have been, his devotion to his mistress
+left nothing to be desired. The Countess sat thoughtfully for a few
+moments before she replied.
+
+"I think I see what you mean," she said presently. "You want as far as
+possible to avoid a scandal?"
+
+"Well, naturally," Walter said warmly. "In your daughter's interests
+it is your duty to assist us. If you fall in line with this idea, the
+general public will be none the wiser. And when you come to know what
+manner of man it is that your servant has been attempting to murder in
+absolutely cold blood----"
+
+"Oh, I know what manner of man he is," the Countess cried. "He is the
+same manner of man as my husband. And a more cold-blooded scoundrel
+never drew the breath of life. But make no mistake about one thing--I
+was a party to no violence. All I wanted was to have my child back
+again, and I hoped that when once this was done, I should be able to
+induce Silva to forego the vengeance which to him was a part of his
+religion. You will understand presently why I have appeared to act so
+strangely. Not but what Lord Ravenspur deserved whatever fate he got
+at the hands of Silva. Still, we are wasting time in talking like
+this. I am ready to come with you to Cannon Green at once, more
+especially because you are right in saying that it is my duty to try
+and avoid anything in the shape of a scandal. If you will give me five
+minutes and call a cab, I am absolutely at your service."
+
+It was a little before five when this strangely assorted group reached
+Cannon Green. The doctor was just coming away, and Walter asked
+eagerly after the patient.
+
+"Oh, practically he is no better," the medical man explained. "I mean,
+he isn't going to get well. Just for the present he is buoyed up with
+a strong stimulant, and is in full possession of his faculties. He
+seems to want something, but I can't make out what it is. We gave him
+a sheet of paper and a pencil just now, and he scribbled a word or
+two, which, being Italian, we could not make out."
+
+"I think I know what he wants," Walter said. "May I suggest, Countess,
+that you go up to the poor man's bedroom at once?"
+
+Silva's face lighted up as his eyes fell upon his mistress. He pointed
+to the bandages about his throat. His lips moved, but no sound came
+from them.
+
+"I know exactly what has happened," the Countess said. "No, pray don't
+distress yourself. You must not try your strength. You will never get
+better if you exert yourself."
+
+A melancholy smile came over Silva's face. The expression of his eyes
+told as plainly as possible that he had no delusions on the score of
+his recovery. Then he went through the motion of writing with an
+imaginary pencil upon an invisible paper. Countess Flavio turned
+impulsively to the nurse.
+
+"Is it quite safe?" she asked. "I don't think the poor fellow will
+rest till he makes me understand; and you see, being Italian myself,
+anything he may write----"
+
+"I think it will be a very good thing," the nurse replied.
+
+She came to the bedside with a sheet of paper and a pencil, which she
+placed in Silva's hand. His unsteady fingers began to trace certain
+signs on the paper. The marks were feeble and straggling enough, but a
+little care on the part of the Countess enabled her to make out what
+the characters represented.
+
+"It is quite plain to me now," she said, looking down into Silva's
+eager face. "You want me to find the diary, do you not? You mean the
+Count's diary, which was not produced at the trial?"
+
+Silva nodded feebly. Evidently he was fast lapsing into
+unconsciousness again. But with an effort he managed to concentrate
+his mind upon what the Countess was saying.
+
+"The diary is locked up in a little desk in your bedroom," the
+Countess went on. "I am to find it and give it to Mr. Walter Lance to
+read. My good Silva, this is most extraordinary! What possible
+interest could Mr. Lance take in that diary? Are you quite sure that I
+have not made a mistake?"
+
+Again Silva opened his eyes and nodded almost vigorously.
+
+"Very well," the Countess said reluctantly. "I see you are in earnest.
+I will get the diary at once, and Mr. Lance shall have it without
+delay. If there is anything more----"
+
+It was idle to speak to Silva any longer. Just for an instant a smile
+flickered over his face, and then he was completely lost to the world
+and his surroundings. Puzzled and mystified, the Countess crept from
+the room. Silva had made this request on what was practically his
+dying bed, and he must be obeyed. What good it would do at this moment
+the Countess was quite at a loss to see. She found the little desk
+presently and broke it open. Inside lay a small parchment-covered
+volume with gilt lettering on the outside. With this in her hand the
+Countess Flavio walked out on to the lawn where Walter was strolling
+up and down and accosted him.
+
+"This is for you," she said. "I don't know why, but Silva told me to
+deliver it into your hands, and perhaps when you have read it you will
+have a different opinion of Vera's mother."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+RUN TO EARTH.
+
+
+Without waiting for a reply the Countess turned away, and went back
+into the house again. In the drawing-room Vera was seated, talking
+earnestly to Lord Ravenspur. There was an awkward pause as the
+Countess Flavio entered the room. Then Vera rose with a crimson face,
+and came in the direction of her mother.
+
+"I suppose there is no occasion," she said, "to introduce you to one
+another, though it is so many years ago--"
+
+"I have never seen Lord Ravenspur before in my life," the Countess
+said coldly, "and I am quite sure that he has never seen me, either.
+We are absolute strangers."
+
+"But I thought," Vera stammered, "that Lord Ravenspur and
+yourself---- Oh, I don't know what I thought."
+
+The girl paused abruptly, conscious that she was saying too much. For
+some time past she had been hugging what appeared to be a shameful
+secret to her breast. Her face paled with remorse now when she thought
+how she had misjudged these two people. But the embarrassment was not
+all Vera's, for Ravenspur was looking unhappy and uncomfortable. Only
+the Countess appeared to retain her cold self-possession. For some
+time no one spoke.
+
+"Sooner or later, I suppose, I shall be entitled to an explanation,"
+the Countess said at length. "It is now eighteen years since I was
+cruelly deprived of my child. It is just possible that Lord Ravenspur
+can explain his extraordinary conduct."
+
+"I think I might manage to do that if we were alone," Ravenspur
+replied. "But, after all, you are Vera's mother, and what I have to
+say I could not utter in the child's hearing. Oh, I know that sounds
+like a cowardly remark, but my conscience tells me that I am only
+doing what is right."
+
+Vera rose as if to go, but Ravenspur stretched out a hand and detained
+her. There was a determined look in his eyes.
+
+"Not yet," he said; "there will be time for that later on. After
+dinner, if the Countess will give me the honour of an interview, I may
+be able to satisfy her that I am not the scoundrel she takes me to be.
+There are always two sides to a question."
+
+"Yes, where the man is concerned," the Countess said coldly. "Let us
+hope in this case the same remark will apply to the woman--that is, if
+you are prepared to admit that I _am_ a woman."
+
+Ravenspur murmured something in reply. It seemed to him only right
+that mother and daughter should be alone. And, besides, he wanted to
+think the situation over. He had formed his own opinion of the
+Countess. He had implicitly believed all that his late friend Flavio
+had told him about his wife. He had anticipated something quite
+different to this. The woman was cold and self-contained and haughty,
+and yet Ravenspur could see nothing in her face to which he could take
+exception. Flavio had spoken of her as a fiend, a creature who had no
+title to the name of woman. His pictures had been glowing and full of
+colour. And now, before a word had been spoken, Ravenspur began to
+have his doubts. And how like the Countess was to Mrs. Delahay. As
+Ravenspur paced up and down the lawn, he began to see a little light
+in dark places. He was still turning the matter over in his mind when
+Walter and Venables came out of the house.
+
+"Where are you going now?" Ravenspur asked. "What is that thing that
+you have in your hand?"
+
+"It is a new collar and dog-chain," Walter explained. "It suddenly
+occurred to Venables just now that we had seen nothing of Bruno all
+day. I have been whistling for him for half an hour, and though I am
+almost certain he is hiding somewhere in the bracken on the common, I
+can't get him to answer the call."
+
+"Probably afraid of a good thrashing for his work last night,"
+Ravenspur murmured. "But you must manage to get hold of him, Walter.
+It will never do for a big hound like that to be roaming about the
+common. Those dogs are all right when they are well fed. But if the
+beast gets really hungry I wouldn't answer for the consequences.
+Whatever else happens, or whatever is neglected, you must find Bruno,
+and that at once."
+
+Walter and Venables went off in the direction of the common, and for
+the next couple of hours sought everywhere for the dog. It seemed to
+them they could hear him every now and then. Presently Venables caught
+sight of his lean, dark-brown side as he crouched behind a great
+thicket of gorse. Walter called softly, and held a biscuit out in the
+direction of the bush. Then slowly, with his body bent to the ground
+and his head hung down, the great beast came, and Walter slipped the
+collar round his neck. He had hardly congratulated himself upon his
+success when a hollow groan close by attracted his attention. He
+turned eagerly to Venables. "Oh, yes, I heard it," the latter said
+with a smile. "Can't you guess who it is? I declare I had absolutely
+forgotten all about him. Unless I am greatly mistaken, that is our
+friend Stevens whom Perks tied up so neatly and artistically last
+night."
+
+It was precisely as Venables had said. Stevens lay there groaning and
+shivering, quite helpless and almost unable to move. Even after his
+bonds were cut away it was some time before he had strength to rise.
+His teeth were chattering with the cold, although the day was quite a
+warm one. He was a mass of cramps and aches from head to feet. When
+once his blood began to stir again, he turned an angry face in the
+direction of his rescuers.
+
+"Oh, you need not laugh," he said. "It is no laughing matter. I'll
+have the law against you for this, see if I don't."
+
+"We will talk about that presently," said Venables coolly. "In the
+meantime, you had better come as far as the house and have something
+to eat. And you will be wise if you say nothing, or know nothing, of
+what happened last night. Your accomplice, Silva, lies in bed at the
+point of death, so you have nothing to fear from him. If you had gone
+straight with us, you would not have fallen into this sorry plight.
+Have you got any money?"
+
+"I spent it all in coming down last night," Stevens said.
+
+"Oh, well, we'll see you back to town again," Walter replied.
+"Meanwhile, we have other work to do. We will take you to the house
+and see that you are properly fed, and then you can kill time as best
+you can for the evening. You can return by the last train."
+
+It was dark before Stevens reached the station with the few shillings
+in his pocket necessary to get him back to London again. As he stepped
+into a third-class carriage he did not realise that Walter and
+Venables were taking their places at the end of the train. It was just
+the same at Waterloo Station, where Stevens got out, and a moment
+later he was being followed by the pair, who had been joined now by
+Dallas.
+
+"What is the game, gentlemen?" the Inspector asked. "Surely that man
+is the witness Stevens who gave such startling evidence at the Delahay
+inquest?"
+
+"That is right enough," Walter said. "We are going to follow him and
+see where he goes to. Unless I am greatly mistaken, he can give you a
+great deal more information than he did at the inquest. And now,
+perhaps, I had better tell you of the discovery which Lord Ravenspur
+made last night. But, before doing that, I want to know if you missed
+anything from Mr. Delahay's studio. For instance, did you find a watch
+on the body?"
+
+"There was no watch," Dallas said, after a moment's thought. "We found
+a purse in his trousers pocket with some gold in it, but nothing
+besides. Was he wearing a watch?"
+
+"I am sure if you ask Mrs. Delahay she will tell you so," Walter
+replied. "He was wearing a watch and chain, and on the chain was an
+ornament which my uncle had given him. My uncle bought that ornament
+yesterday from a man who is obviously a receiver of stolen goods, and
+that ornament was sold to the shady individual in question by John
+Stevens. In proof of what I say, here it is."
+
+Dallas' eyes gleamed as he took the trinket in his hand. He said no
+more as he walked thoughtfully by the side of his companions, till at
+length Stevens turned into a shady street, where he entered a dingy
+public-house. Without the slightest hesitation Dallas followed. He had
+quite made up his mind what he was going to do. For the time being, at
+any rate, the public-house was empty. Stevens was sitting in an
+armchair behind a partition with a glass in his hand. He started and
+his face changed colour as his eyes fell upon Dallas. The Inspector's
+manner was genial enough, but there was a grimness on his face that
+Stevens did not relish.
+
+"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" he stammered.
+
+"Well, unless I am greatly mistaken, you can do a great deal," Dallas
+replied. "That matter of the Delahay murder, you know. You remember
+what you told us at the inquest?"
+
+"Yes, and every word of it was true," Stevens said tremulously. "If it
+is the last word I ever say, it was true."
+
+"And I believe it," Dallas went on. "The only fault I find in your
+evidence is that you did not tell us enough. Why didn't you finish
+your story while you were about it?"
+
+Stevens looked stealthily at his tormentor. He gulped his glass of
+liquor down hastily, for there was a queer dryness at the back of his
+throat that almost choked him.
+
+"Come," Dallas said, with a quick and sudden sternness. "Speak out, or
+it will be all the worse for you. Tell us who it was who murdered Mr.
+Louis Delahay?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+THE WHOLE TRUTH.
+
+
+Stevens stared helplessly at the speaker. He tried to speak, but his
+jaw dropped. He mumbled something that was quite impossible to
+understand. But, at the same time, he recognised the peril of his
+position. There was a ghastly green tinge on his face, his hand
+trembled. Dallas regarded him pleasantly enough. There was nothing
+harsh or stern in the detective's manner. His quiet air of assured
+triumph struck a greater terror into Stevens than any sternness would
+have done. The shabby little man wriggled about in his seat looking
+very much like a rat behind the bars of a cage.
+
+"Take your time," Dallas said quietly. "You will find in the long run
+that it will pay you a great deal better to tell the truth."
+
+"I have always told the truth," Stevens stammered.
+
+"Up to a certain point, yes. But you didn't go far enough. For
+instance, you might have told the coroner that you saw Mr. Delahay's
+lady visitor a second time. You might have gone further, and told the
+court that Mr. Delahay had other visitors long after his first one had
+gone. You see, that would have helped the police a good deal, and it
+would have effectually cleared an innocent lady whom we suspected of
+having a hand in the murder. Now who was it that called at the studio
+in the early hours of the morning?"
+
+"How should I know?" Stevens said sullenly.
+
+"That, my good man, is for you to say. But you need not answer unless
+you like. It so happens that you are waiting here for the individual
+in question this very moment."
+
+The greenish hue crept over Stevens' face again. He could only stare
+at the speaker with open-mouthed astonishment. Dallas' manner grew a
+little more stern and curt as he rose from his seat.
+
+"You will stay where you are," he said, "and with these two gentlemen
+I will go into the next box. I think I can trust you not to betray our
+presence there. In fact, your safety, to a large extent, depends upon
+your actions in the next hour or so."
+
+"I have done nothing," Stevens burst out. "I swear I have done
+nothing. I had no hand in it at all."
+
+"That I quite believe," Dallas replied. "It was afterwards that you
+began to see your way to make some money out of it. And now let me
+tell you something. You don't deserve any consideration at my hands,
+but I am prepared to spare you as far as possible. Oh, I know you will
+play me false at the first chance. But let me tell you, I know all
+about your visit to your friend, Perks, of Cannon Green. I know how
+you disposed of certain stolen goods which, until the night of the
+murder, were in the possession of Mr. Louis Delahay. After that, I
+don't think you will deem it prudent to try any of your nonsense with
+me."
+
+Dallas turned away, and, with his two companions, entered the next
+box. It was gloomy enough there, so that their presence was not likely
+to be detected by anyone who came in. Walter turned eagerly to Dallas.
+His curiosity was aroused now. He wanted to know how it was that the
+inspector knew so much.
+
+"It was mere conjecture on my part," Dallas said. "Of course, what you
+told me gave me a great deal of assistance; but I did not begin to see
+my way quite clearly until we followed Stevens here. The landlord of
+this public-house has never got into trouble as yet. But we know
+perfectly well that a good deal of stolen property is disposed of, and
+when I saw Stevens turn in here, things became plain enough. He was
+coming to meet his accomplice, and hand over his share of the money
+which he had obtained from Perks. Before half an hour is over, the
+real culprit will be here. Please stop talking directly anybody comes
+in. It will spoil everything if our presence here becomes known."
+
+It was precisely as Dallas had said. Some twenty minutes later a man
+lounged into the bar and called for something to drink. He seemed to
+suspect nothing, he appeared to be perfectly at his ease. He whistled
+some music-hall air merrily. The man was fairly well-dressed. A gaudy
+cap on the back of his head disclosed a plaster of greasy curls on a
+peculiarly low and retreating forehead. The stranger might have been a
+street hawker in his best clothes. Certainly he did not suggest a
+professional criminal.
+
+He swallowed his drink and strolled towards the fireplace without
+noticing the three occupants in the recesses of the box. Then he
+caught sight of Stevens, and took a seat by his side. The conversation
+was conducted in whispers, but it was possible for the listeners to
+hear most of what was taking place.
+
+"Well, did you manage it all right?" the newcomer asked.
+
+"Don't trouble about that," Stevens muttered. "But I didn't get half
+as much as you thought I should. Forty pounds was the price my man
+offered, and he wouldn't give another penny."
+
+The newcomer growled something incoherent. Then there was a chink of
+money stealthily passed, followed by a volley of oaths from Stevens'
+companion.
+
+"The game isn't worth playing," he muttered. "Fancy, twenty quid for a
+job like that, and the chance of hanging into the bargain. I wish I
+had never gone there, John. I wish I had never met you that night,
+when you told me all about the house in Fitzjohn Square. I wake up in
+the night in a bath of cold sweat when I think of it. Fancy going into
+what you take to be an empty house, and finding a dead body staring up
+in your face from the floor! Yes, I _took_ his watch and chain all
+right, but I don't know where I got the pluck from. Took the risk of
+being strung up for it, bli'me! And me ready to get married, and the
+date fixed and all! Lord, if I could only see my way to get clear of
+it all! Twenty quid against a man's life! You go and try it yourself,
+and see what it's like, my ancient pal. When I recollect as it was you
+as told me of the broken catch on the studio window, I could bash your
+face in, I could. I can't forget it. I have tried drink, but that is
+no use. You can stave it off for an hour or two, and then it comes
+back worse than ever. And all for the sake of twenty quid!"
+
+Stevens made no reply. He sat there quivering from head to foot, sick
+with suspense and anxiety, wondering in his mind when Dallas was going
+to strike. At any other time the ghastly colour of his face would have
+attracted the attention of his companion, but the other man was
+occupied with his own thoughts. He was staring moodily into the
+fireplace.
+
+"Don't talk about it," Stevens managed to say at length. "If you had
+told me about it at the time, I never should have touched that stuff.
+But I had got it in my pocket, and I had given my word before ever I
+had heard of the murder. And how was I to know that there was a chance
+of Mr. Delahay coming back? If anything happens you will say as much
+for me, won't you?"
+
+Stevens asked the question with trembling eagerness. He made his
+request more with a view to impressing Dallas than anything else. But
+the culprit by his side, apparently, had no idea of the drift of the
+question, or why it was asked.
+
+"Oh, you have nothing to fear," he said moodily. "At least, it is all
+right as long as that stuff isn't traced. But what is the use of
+sitting here jawing like this? Let us go to a music-hall or theatre or
+something of that kind--anything to get away from one's thoughts.
+Every now and again----"
+
+The speaker rose to his feet, and Stevens dragged his trembling limbs
+from the settee. At the same moment, Dallas appeared upon the scene
+and touched the stranger lightly on the shoulder.
+
+"I hope you know who I am," he said.
+
+The other man heaved a sigh, which sounded almost like relief. Just
+for a moment all the blood left his face. Then he recovered himself
+and looked at Dallas steadily.
+
+"Dallas, of Scotland Yard," he said. "Oh, I know you well enough, sir,
+and I expect you know me."
+
+"Name of Cooney," Dallas said briskly. "Jim Cooney. I arrest you for
+burglary at the residence of Mr. Louis Delahay, in Fitzjohn Square."
+
+"Yes, that's right enough," Cooney said. "I am not going to complain.
+Upon my word, I am glad it is over. If you just let me have a
+cigarette and another drink I'll tell you all about it; and a nice
+sort of pal you are, Stevens. Oh, I'd give something to have you for
+five minutes to myself. You sneaking rat!"
+
+"I couldn't help myself," Stevens whined. "Upon my word, I couldn't.
+Besides, what does it matter? Inspector Dallas knows all about it. He
+even knew you were coming here tonight, though I swear he never had a
+single hint from me. Isn't that so, Inspector? Am I telling the truth,
+or am I a liar?"
+
+"It is perfectly true, Cooney," Dallas explained. "I followed Stevens
+here, knowing quite well that he was waiting for you."
+
+The assurance seemed to be sufficient, for Cooney asked no further
+questions. Nor was it for Dallas to explain that, till a few moments
+ago, he had no idea of the real identity of the man whom Stevens had
+come to meet. Cooney took a long whiff of his cigarette and pitched
+the end of it into the fireplace.
+
+"I am quite ready for you now," he said, "and I'll tell you all about
+it if you like. Oh, I know everything I say will be taken down in
+evidence against me; but it is little I mind that. I plundered the
+dead body of Mr. Delahay, all right. He was dead when I got there, and
+if I didn't tell you so, you overheard enough to jug me half a dozen
+times. Don't look at me like that Mr. Dallas, sir. Don't think as I
+had any hand in the murder, sir. May I die if I ain't as innocent of
+that as a kid."
+
+"Better not say too much," Dallas suggested. "Really, I am not curious
+to hear. And now, come along. You can have a cab if you like. Perhaps
+you may come out of this better than you expect--if you are only
+candid."
+
+"Don't be in a hurry," Cooney pleaded. "I'll tell you everything, sir,
+I will--straight--everything from start to finish. Sit down and listen
+to me; and you need not be afraid that I shall try and escape. I don't
+want to."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+THE STORY OF A CRIME.
+
+
+Dallas shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Truth to tell he was both
+annoyed and disappointed. He had looked forward with every assurance
+to laying his hand on the actual culprit in the person of Cooney. As
+it was now, the whole thing looked like beginning all over again. A
+suspicion of the real truth was dawning on his mind. "It was like
+this," Cooney said, in a harsh, strained voice. "I have been pretty
+short of a job for some time, and I promised to pay for a lot of
+furniture I bought for my house by a given time. I had the stuff on
+the hire-purchase system, and I knew precious well what would happen
+if I did not keep the instalments up. I had only a day or two to
+spare, and I was getting pretty anxious. That same evening I met
+Stevens in a public house. I hadn't seen him for some time, and,
+naturally enough, I asked him what he had been doing. Then he told me
+that on behalf of a party, whose name he didn't mention, he had been
+shadowing a certain house in Fitzjohn Square. I wasn't particularly
+interested until he let out that he could tell me a good deal about
+the houses there, and how some of them would be easy work for the
+likes of a chap such as me, for instance. Then I asks a few questions,
+and hears all about Mr. Delahay's studio. Thinks I to myself, here's a
+bit of luck for you, Jim Cooney. I had all the information I wanted.
+The next night I goes round and has a look at the studio. The thing
+was as easy as eating your dinner. I waited till it got pretty late,
+and then I got into the house from the back. When I did get there, I
+was rather alarmed to see a light in the studio. I crept along to the
+door, and looked in. You can imagine my surprise when I saw a
+gentleman painting there. When I looked at him again I had no
+difficulty in recognising Lord Ravenspur.
+
+"What he was doing there, I don't know. But seeing it wasn't his own
+house, I reckoned he wasn't likely to stay long, so I just sat down to
+wait patiently for such a time as I could have the place to myself. It
+wasn't more than an hour before I heard the door open, and two other
+people came in. They were a lady and a gentleman, but who the lady was
+I don't know from Adam. The gentleman, as you will guess, was Mr.
+Delahay himself. I suppose the lady was really Mrs. Delahay, too; I
+mean, the woman who is suspected of the murder. But I am getting a bit
+away from the point. I had hardly time to hide myself behind a recess
+with a curtain in front of it before the newcomers came into the hall
+and began to talk. They were conversing more or less in whispers, so
+that I could not follow very well, but I could see that they were
+annoyed to find Lord Ravenspur there, and they were casting about for
+some means of getting rid of him. Presently the lady said something
+about the light and the cable, and the gentleman seemed to fall in
+with her suggestion. Anyway, I saw him take a knife from his pocket,
+and go down into the basement. A moment later the whole place was
+plunged in darkness----"
+
+"You mean that the cable was cut?" Dallas asked. "Well, I am glad that
+mystery is cleared up. I am bound to tell you, gentlemen, that that
+cut cable has caused me no end of trouble. It started me on a dozen,
+more or less impossible, theories. I see exactly what happened now.
+Mr. Delahay and his companion doubtless thought that if they cut off
+the light, they would get rid of Lord Ravenspur."
+
+"That is exactly what they did," Cooney resumed. "I heard his lordship
+fussing about, and trying the electric switches, but he gave it up as
+a bad job, and after a bit left the house. Mr. Delahay appeared
+presently from somewhere, with a lamp, which he carried into the
+studio, and the lady followed him. I was close enough at hand to see
+what took place. The lady had come, evidently for some valuable
+jewelry, for Mr. Delahay produced a case from a safe, and handed it
+over to her. My word, but those stones did sparkle! It seemed to me
+that I was in luck that night. My game obviously was to take no
+further heed of the studio, but to follow the lady as soon as she left
+the house. It was nearly two o'clock in the morning, and there wasn't
+a soul about. In my mind's eye I saw those stones already in my
+pocket. But, unfortunately for me, Mr. Delahay walked with his visitor
+as far as the front gate, and stood looking up the road until the lady
+was safe in a hansom. It was as much as I could do to get back to the
+house again without being discovered, but I managed it all right.
+There were several valuable articles I had marked down, and directly
+Mr. Delahay was back in the studio I began to gather them together. I
+dropped one trinket, which tinkled on the floor, and my heart was in
+my mouth. I thought that the sound didn't reach the ears of Mr.
+Delahay. But I was mistaken. A minute or two later I heard him coming,
+and I bolted through the window into the garden. I waited there
+perhaps for an hour before it seemed safe for me to go back, and then
+I went. I turned on the light. . . . My heart was fair in my mouth.
+Then I looked down at the floor. There lay Mr. Delahay as dead as a
+rabbit. I believe I howled for a moment, I was taken to! But there he
+lay, and there was his watch-chain a-shining in the light, and then it
+comes into my head that, if I'd got pluck enough, here was a way to
+pay for them sticks of furniture of mine. It was hard work, but I
+managed to screw myself up to it at last. After all said and done, I'd
+only come here to take what I could get, and it wasn't me that knifed
+the poor gentleman. Besides, he might have died a natural death for
+all I knew. There was no sign of blood about, and nothing that
+suggested violence. All the same, I couldn't go through it again if
+you offered me ten thousand of the best."
+
+Cooney paused and shuddered. Great beads of perspiration poured down
+his face. Then he resumed once more.
+
+"Well, he was dead, and there was an end of it. Just for the moment I
+wasn't thinking about much besides my little happy home. I pocketed
+all the valuables I could lay my hands upon, and carried them away.
+You may say that that was a mad thing to do, but after I saw Mr.
+Delahay lying dead at my feet, it seemed to me as if he wasn't likely
+to miss 'em. Oh, I know as I stand in what the papers call a serious
+position. But that's the gospel truth, and I can't tell you any more.
+It seems to me I have said enough. And now, if you will call a cab,
+sir, I am ready for you."
+
+A cab was called, and Dallas drove off in the direction of Bow Street
+with his prisoner. He stopped just a moment to exchange a few words
+with Lance and Venables.
+
+"There is no reason why Mrs. Delahay should not know this just yet?"
+Walter asked. "You may be sure that she feels her position keenly.
+Would there be any objection to getting her to accompany us as far as
+Cannon Green tonight? You will understand why."
+
+"None at all," Dallas said. "I'll send a message to the man who is
+watching outside the Grand Hotel, and let him know that his presence
+there is needed no longer. All the same, we have still got to find the
+culprit. It isn't Cooney. He told us the truth, I'm certain. The
+culprit is at Cannon Green! What a fool I've been!"
+
+Mrs. Delahay received her visitors in a dull, apathetic way, which had
+never left her since the night of the tragedy. But her face cleared,
+and her manner became more soft and gentle as she listened to the
+story which Walter had to tell. She dropped into a chair, and for some
+moments the tears ran unrestrainedly down her cheeks. She wiped her
+eyes presently. There was something like a smile on her lips as she
+turned to Walter.
+
+"I believe those tears saved my reason," she said. "I have not been
+able to cry. I have not been able to feel the last few days. The death
+of my husband was bad enough. The knowledge that I was suspected of
+his murder was worse, but the feeling that my own sister possibly had
+a hand in the tragedy was worse than all the rest. There are one or
+two matters to be explained yet, but the great truth is growing plain,
+and I feel like a living being once more. Oh, yes; I will come down to
+Cannon Green with you; I am looking forward to it with something like
+pleasure. I know that when I have seen my sister everything will be
+cleared up."
+
+It was a different woman who came down from her room half an hour
+later, ready for the journey. She looked sad and pathetic enough in
+her deep mourning. The trouble still brooded in her eyes, but the look
+of stony despair was no longer there. They came at length to the house
+on the common. The windows were lighted up, the hall looked
+comfortable and cheery.
+
+In the drawing-room were the Countess Flavio and Vera. They rose as
+Mrs. Delahay entered.
+
+"I have brought your sister," Walter explained briefly. "She has much
+to say to you. Perhaps I had better leave you alone."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+COUNT FLAVIO'S DIARY.
+
+
+It was getting exceedingly late now, but the two sisters Descarti,
+together with Vera, were still in the drawing-room. Nobody cared to
+disturb them. It was felt that they would have much to say to one
+another. And no doubt, all they had to tell would be disclosed when
+the proper time came. Valdo had not recovered consciousness again. He
+lay there overhead, with a vigilant-eyed nurse watching him. Venables
+had not come down with Mrs. Delahay and Walter. He had excused himself
+on the plea of business, and on the understanding that he would visit
+Cannon Green the following day. In the dining-room for the last hour
+or two Walter had been seated, deeply engrossed in the slim,
+parchment-covered volume which had been sent him by Countess Flavio at
+the urgent request of her dying servant.
+
+Time was going on, and still Walter did not look up from the book. It
+was long past two before he finished. Then with a firm step and a
+determined air he went up to the little library where Lord Ravenspur
+was busy writing letters. The latter looked up, and demanded to know
+what his nephew wanted.
+
+"I want you to look at this," Walter said quietly. "It is a diary
+written by your late friend Count Flavio, whose handwriting you will,
+of course, recognise. The diary came into the hands of Silva after his
+master's death. Now Silva told me some time ago--in fact, during that
+memorable interview in your studio--that he had in his possession
+documentary evidence which would prove that his mistress was an
+injured woman, and his master a scoundrel of the deepest dye. When I
+asked him why he did not produce this book at the trial, he shrugged
+his shoulders, and said that it would have been useless. Public
+opinion against the Countess ran so high that nobody would have
+believed that it was anything but a forgery. But that will be for you
+to judge. Before we go any further, I want your assurance that this is
+your dead friend's own handwriting."
+
+Lord Ravenspur turned over the leaves of the manuscript, more or less
+languidly. One leaf after another he fluttered over; then he handed
+the book back to Walter again.
+
+"I am not going to contest the point," he said. "Beyond question, this
+is my unfortunate friend's handwriting; though the letters are quite
+plain, the writing could not be easily forged. Indeed, to forge such
+an amount as that would be the work of half a lifetime. But what do
+you want me to do?"
+
+Walter signified that he would like his uncle to read the whole of the
+volume, but Lord Ravenspur shook his head.
+
+"I am afraid I cannot," he said. "I can speak Italian fairly enough,
+as you know, but that is merely colloquial, and I had never time
+really to master the language. But, seeing that you spent three years
+of your life there, don't you think that you had better read it out to
+me. I suppose it is interesting?"
+
+"I never read anything that fascinated me more," Walter said. "Mind
+you, this is the secret diary of Count Flavio. He had no idea that
+anybody would ever read it. I have gone through the volume from start
+to finish, and I am forced to the conclusion that your friend was the
+poisonous scoundrel that Silva declares him to be. I tell you, if this
+book was published, it would cause a great sensation from one end of
+Europe to the other. It is the work of a brilliant man with a fine
+style and an imaginative mind--the history of an attempt to deprive a
+woman of her will, and of her reason. For the three years during which
+the Count and Countess Flavio lived together the woman's life was one
+long, incessant torture. Mind you, there was no actual violence, but
+the tortures were exquisite and cruel all the same. And here we have
+them in the Count's own words. It is absolutely necessary that you
+should listen to some extracts from this amazing work."
+
+"Go on," Ravenspur said quietly; "I am all attention."
+
+Walter bent back the book, and began to read:
+
+
+"February 17th, 1887. What man is there who has ever succeeded in
+penetrating the unfathomable depths of a woman's mind? What fools we
+men are to assume a knowledge of the sex until we are married, and
+have the object lesson before us day by day! There is Carlotta, for
+example. Carlotta's prevailing trouble is that she is jealous of me.
+She seems to think that because she cut herself off from her family
+for my sake, I am to be at her beck and call henceforth and for ever.
+This peculiar form of jealousy interests and amuses me. It is a
+pleasure to study it from a scientific basis. This morning I told her
+I was going to Florence for a day or two, and she wept because I would
+not allow her to accompany me. I could see that she does not trust me,
+wherefore I caused a friend of mine who can imitate a woman's writing
+excellently, to write me a passionate love-letter, which fell quite
+naturally into Carlotta's hands.
+
+"The scene which followed was exquisitely amusing. I have never seen a
+woman weep to such an extent before. Positively my charming Carlotta
+was enchanting. I was quite sorry at length when she assumed a mantle
+of dignity, and left me. Still, this is only the first of many such
+scenes if I engineered them properly. I see that Carlotta is in
+possession of all the emotions, so that, by studying her alone, I
+shall be in a position to add some really extraordinary chapters to my
+great book on women and their ways.
+
+"March 19th, 1887. Carlotta has afforded me a month of absolute
+enjoyment. Why do people pay money to sit in stuffy theatres and watch
+comedies and tragedies when they can see and hear the real,
+palpitating thing for nothing? Outwardly, Carlotta and myself are at
+daggers drawn. She thinks I am unrepentant and angry, but, as to
+myself, I have never been more cheerful and happy in my life. And when
+Carlotta threatens to leave me, I ask her why she is going, knowing
+perfectly well that she has not the slightest intention of leaving me.
+Women are very much like cats in these matters--they will make many
+sacrifices for the sake of the domestic hearth. I was talking to Dr.
+Sacci, the great surgeon, the other day, and he was telling me of the
+fierce joy that comes through some new discovery which has been the
+outcome of vivisection. But, then, Sacci is only working in the
+interests of humanity, whereas my vivisection allows me to see the
+exquisite suffering of the patient. I can study the nerves, and the
+palpitating wound, at the very moment when the knife enters.
+
+"December 21st, 1887. The last chapter in my book is by far the most
+brilliant and searching which I have yet added to that fascinating
+volume. Whatever Carlotta suffers in the present, she shall go down to
+posterity as the martyr of her sex. I will place her on a pinnacle as
+high as my own. Indeed, I was almost sorry when I had to tell her the
+story of the love-letter, and how I had been playing on her feelings
+all these months. At the same time, I looked forward to the
+explanation, because I knew that it would open up to me a fresh phase
+of womanly nature. And I confess that it did with a vengeance.
+Carlotta turned pale. She stood there looking as if she were filled
+with the greatest physical agony, her eyes filled with tears which did
+not fall. I don't know how many days it is since she spoke to me last,
+but certainly it must be upwards of a fortnight. This is not exactly
+what I expected. It is only when a woman talks that one can judge of
+how the experiment is progressing. Tomorrow, all being well, I am
+going to adopt a new scheme which I hope will have the desired effect.
+
+"December 22nd, 1887. Our little Vera has disappeared. Evidently she
+has been kidnapped with a view to a reward. The whole neighbourhood is
+up in arms, and my wife is distracted. It has often been a favourite
+theory of mine that every man takes a second place in a woman's
+affections as soon as her first child is born. I look back now with a
+vivid recollection of the early days when I first met Carlotta. I look
+back to her passionate love scenes, and her declarations that I should
+be first with her, then and always. Even though I was very much
+enamoured, I had my doubts when I was alone, and in a position to
+debate the matter clearly. The time has come to put the question to a
+test, and thus it became necessary for Vera to disappear. I might say
+at once that my theory has been vindicated to the letter. I now know
+that Carlotta cares far more for Vera than she does for me. The
+reflection is not soothing to one's vanity, but there it is. There is
+a wildness and intensity in her grief, which she never would have
+experienced had I been brought home to her in the last stage of
+dissolution. I must keep this up. I must work this phase as long as it
+lasts, which will not be an indefinite time, because I must not drive
+my patient too far. She begins to show signs of collapse already. I
+think at the end of a week I must have Vera brought back again. By the
+expiration of that time, I fancy I can add another chapter to my
+remarkable book."
+
+
+Walter stopped for a moment, his voice was full of loathing and
+disgust. An honest indignation almost choked him. He saw now that his
+anger and contempt were reflected on the face of Ravenspur.
+
+"Do you want me to read any further," he said, "or is that sufficient?
+Shall I tell you, for instance, what happened after this inhuman
+wretch brought his child home again? Shall I tell you of other
+tortures and tyrannies, and how this scoundrel rejoices in the fact
+that his neighbours like him and pity him because he is married to a
+bad-tempered woman, who makes his life a burden? That is the note that
+runs all through this extraordinary diary. The man uses it as a weapon
+to play upon the feelings of his wife. If you are not yet satisfied I
+will pick out----"
+
+"No, no," Ravenspur cried, as he rose to his feet. "I have heard
+enough and more than enough. Flavio must have been a madman; and yet I
+regarded him as one of the best and noblest of men. I never dreamt he
+had an enemy. I never knew anybody say a word against him. And to
+think that a man of the world like myself should be deceived in this
+way! Everything is now growing wonderfully clear before my eyes,
+Walter. I can even understand why the Countess left her daughter
+behind her. Fancy suffering all that trouble and humiliation to find,
+later on, that the child you had done so much for was likely to turn
+out as her father had done! In the last ten minutes you have proved
+that I was wrong, and the Countess was right; and yet it seemed to me
+that I was justified in my actions. I don't know what I am going to
+do. I don't know what steps I can take to convince that unhappy woman
+that I acted for the best. At any rate, I must make a beginning before
+I go to bed tonight."
+
+Ravenspur took up the volume and went down the stairs. In the
+drawing-room, the Countess, Mrs. Delahay, and Vera were still seated,
+talking earnestly together. Ravenspur crossed the room to the
+Countess's side and held out the book.
+
+"Do you know what this contains?" he asked. "I suppose you have read
+it from cover to cover?"
+
+"Once," said the Countess, with a shudder, "but never again."
+
+"I can quite understand your feelings," Ravenspur said. "I have only
+heard extracts, but they have been quite sufficient for me. And now
+let me do my best to try and convince you that I acted in what I
+conceived to be the true interests of your child. I know now how wrong
+I was. I know that you have been made the victim of a scoundrel and a
+madman; and if you can forgive me for what I have done, I will be your
+grateful servant in the future."
+
+"One moment," the Countess said. "There is another, and yet more
+painful thing to confess. I understand from your nephew that the
+police think that they have a most important clue to the murder of
+Louis Delahay. The police are all wrong. It is incredible to me that
+they have not discovered the truth before; that they have not
+blundered on it. Surely you can guess who it is who is responsible for
+the death of my poor sister's husband?"
+
+"I am afraid," Ravenspur murmured, "that I cannot----"
+
+"Not even after it was known that you were at work in the studio that
+night?"
+
+"No, unless, perhaps--good heavens, you don't mean to say Silva?"
+
+"Nobody else. The man tracked you to Fitzjohn Square. There was not
+one of your movements that he did not know. But come this way. I dare
+say the nurse will not mind us talking to the patient for a few
+moments alone. You shall hear Silva confirm what I have said to you."
+
+Ravenspur stumbled to his feet. He was dazed and numbed with surprise;
+and yet the more he came to think of it, the more plausible it seemed.
+No, the nurse had no objection, it would not harm the patient. He was
+very near to his end now. Weak as he was, his eyes gleamed as he
+caught sight of Lord Ravenspur, the old wolfish look was on his face.
+
+"We have been mistaken, my dear Silva," the Countess said. "Lord
+Ravenspur has been one of my best friends if I had only known it. He
+was deceived by my husband, as hundreds of others were. His lordship
+was led to believe that the Count was a martyr to a dreadful wife, a
+woman incapable of looking after a child. The kidnapping of my
+daughter was part of his vengeance upon me, so that he could reach me
+from the other side of the grave. Everything has been explained, the
+diary has been read by Lord Ravenspur; and he has forgiven you, he has
+come to your bedside to say so before you--you----"
+
+"Die," Silva said, with an effort. "Curse his forgiveness. If I could
+stand up now----"
+
+He could say no more, the malignant hate, the fire of madness, still
+gleamed in his dark eyes. He would hold the same tradition to the end.
+There was no chance of anything like a reconciliation here.
+
+"I expected nothing else," the Countess said sadly. "Only a Corsican
+could understand his feelings. It is his blood, his religion. But if
+you can't forgive, my poor Silva, you can confess. It may be the means
+of saving an innocent life. It was you who were responsible for the
+death of Mr. Delahay?"
+
+Silva nodded quite coolly. There was an upward heave of his shoulders
+that was very expressive. It was like one who confesses to a mistake.
+
+"I understand," the Countess resumed. "It was a misunderstanding. You
+had traced Lord Ravenspur to the studio. You were going to kill him
+there. Only Mr. Delahay and myself interrupted you. You were probably
+hiding somewhere outside, waiting for your opportunity, when we
+arrived. You did not see us, you were not aware of anything till the
+lights were out. I may make errors in details, but in the main I am
+quite correct. No, don't try and talk--a nod is sufficient. When Mr.
+Delahay returned to the studio, after Lord Ravenspur was driven away,
+and after I had gone, you were in the studio. You mistook Mr. Delahay
+for Lord Ravenspur, and killed him with a glass Corsican dagger. You
+did not know till you saw the papers the next day that you had made a
+mistake?"
+
+Silva nodded again. He did not appear to feel the least remorse, but
+his hungry eyes testified how he regretted that he had so signally
+failed. The old wild spirit was still there, even the approach of
+death could not quench it. Ravenspur turned away, filled with disgust
+and sadness.
+
+"Really, there is nothing more to be said," he murmured. "I should
+like to put the heads of the confession down and get the unhappy man
+to sign it."
+
+Silva affixed a straggling signature to the confession. Then he turned
+over on his side and refused to listen any more. Evidently he was
+going to die as he had lived--hard, unfeeling, carrying his bitter
+hatred to the grave.
+
+"According to his lights," Ravenspur murmured, "let us hope that he
+will not be judged too harshly where he is going so soon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+A WOMAN'S HEART.
+
+
+The hard, cold face had softened slightly. It seemed to Ravenspur that
+there was something akin to a smile in Countess Flavio's eyes when
+once more they were alone in the drawing-room together.
+
+"Let us try and forget that dreadful scene," she said, "as I will try
+and forget what a hard, misunderstood life mine has been."
+
+"It must have been terrible," Ravenspur exclaimed; "and yet there was
+not a man in Europe for whom I had a higher regard than I had for your
+husband. To me he was the soul of honour. I always found him generous
+and liberal-minded. I have seen him do the most spontaneous acts of
+kindness to strangers. It seemed hard to think that he was wholly
+bad."
+
+"He was an enigma," the Countess replied. "In his brain lay a curious
+vein of madness, which vented itself upon me. No one else suffered,
+and, indeed, no one knew that I suffered, with the solitary exception
+of that poor lost soul who is lying at death's door upstairs. When I
+fled from my father's house, knowing that I had cut myself off
+entirely from my own flesh and blood, Silva followed me. From the
+first he began to see how I was suffering. From the first he began to
+entertain a malignant hatred of my husband."
+
+"And finally poisoned him," Ravenspur suggested.
+
+"Ah, there you are wrong," the Countess exclaimed. "With all the
+earnestness in my power I want to impress upon you that my husband
+poisoned himself. As you have been informed, for generations there had
+been a feud between the Descartis and my husband's family. After my
+marriage it would have been an easy matter for my father to summon
+some of his retainers, and command them to avenge the honour and
+dignity of the family. My father chose not to do it. He was satisfied
+with the solemn assurance that only one child of his remained. The
+summons was sent out by Silva. He did not tell me. I did not know in
+the least what he was doing till afterwards. But the sign went forth,
+and my husband received his warning. There was no escape for him, and
+he knew it. That is why he took his own life. No doubt in doing so he
+was actuated by some extraordinary motive, for, with all his faults,
+he was no coward; but even from beyond the grave he persecuted me. His
+body was found in circumstances that pointed to me as the murderess.
+Oh, you may start and shrink, but what I tell you is absolutely true.
+The whole thing was planned, with diabolical ingenuity, by the Count
+on the night of his death. Had it not been for Silva I should have
+gone down to my grave execrated by all who knew me."
+
+"But you were not there," Ravenspur expostulated. "It was proved that
+you were in Florence at the time."
+
+"That was where Silva's cunning and ingenuity came in. During the few
+hours that preceded and followed that tragic event I saw nobody. I was
+utterly worn out and prostrated. I could not drag myself from my bed.
+But nobody saw me, for I had given strict orders that I was not to be
+disturbed. I did not know then that my sister was alive. In fact, I
+had got into such a state that I had no interest in anything. At that
+time my sister Maria was taking a holiday in Florence, and Silva was
+aware of the fact. When I ask you to notice the extraordinary likeness
+between us, you will have no trouble in guessing what happened. Silva
+was in a position to bring over scores of people from Florence, who
+swore that I was in that town at the time of the tragedy. It was a
+bold thing to do, and nobody guessed, nobody doubted the sincerity of
+the witnesses, and thus my life was saved."
+
+"It is a most extraordinary story," Ravenspur murmured. "But, really,
+there is no reason for you to justify yourself any further. We know
+that you are absolutely innocent of any sort of crime. I know now what
+kind of a life Flavio led you. Had I been aware at the time I should
+never have interfered. And yet Flavio managed to convey to me the
+impression that you were the last woman in the world who ought to have
+the custody of a child. I committed an illegal act at the earnest
+request of my old friend. I ran a great risk, but it seemed to me that
+I was justified in what I did."
+
+"I see you are now," the Countess said thoughtfully. "For many, many
+years no doubt you have rejoiced in the fact that you saved Vera from
+a life of misery and unhappiness. You never expected to see or hear
+from me again. You looked upon the child as your own. And now, to a
+certain extent, I must justify myself. I stand in your eyes as a
+deeply wronged and injured woman, and yet you might say to yourself
+that as a mother I have been lacking in my duties. I tell you for a
+long time after the death of my husband my mind trembled on the
+borderline between reason and insanity. I was afraid to see my child.
+I was fearful lest I should find in her some trace of her father; and,
+if I had done so, I believe that I should have taken her life. But,
+gradually, as the years went on and I grew older, a longing to see my
+child came over me that amounted almost to a passion. I left my
+retreat in the mountains, and came into the world again. It was at
+this time that I met Silva once more, and for three years he was
+looking for my child. I need not tell you, Lord Ravenspur, how he got
+on the track."
+
+Lord Ravenspur shivered and nodded in reply.
+
+"I would have prevented that if I could," the Countess went on
+quickly. "I wanted no violence. But I knew that Silva would go his own
+way. I knew that nobody could check his fanaticism. In his eyes you
+were marked down for slaughter. You had violated the dignity and
+honour of the family, and therefore you must be removed. Let me be
+quite candid--I think I hated you almost as much as Silva did. You had
+robbed me of my child at the instigation of my cruel husband. Not
+unnaturally, I regarded you as being little or no better than Count
+Flavio. All the same, as I said before, I wanted no violence. That was
+one of the reasons why I did not come to your house and claim my
+child. I felt sure that you would defy me, and place Vera somewhere
+beyond my reach."
+
+"Most undoubtedly I should," Ravenspur said candidly. "You see, I did
+not know then that you were capable----"
+
+"Of looking after my daughter," the Countess interrupted. "And, from
+your point of view, your actions would have been justified. As soon as
+the danger threatened seriously you made arrangements to get away from
+England until Vera was of age, and capable of acting for herself. But
+Silva found out----"
+
+"One moment," Vera cried eagerly. "Was your servant, Silva, in Park
+Lane disguised as a blind organ-grinder?"
+
+"I understand so," the Countess went on. "At any rate, Silva managed
+things, in his usual able manner. He contrived to get Vera away from
+Lady Ringmar's party, and bring here down her. I daresay you will
+think that this was all very melodramatic and unnecessary, but, as I
+pointed out to you before, I wanted no violence. I thought when
+Silva's plan was successful that I should be able to persuade him to
+forego the rest of his vengeance. I thought that once I had my
+daughter back in my own hands, I could take her out of the country and
+get Silva to accompany me. Then you, Lord Ravenspur, would have been
+safe. But in certain matters Silva is quite as insane as my husband
+was. It was in vain that I appealed to him. He had made his vow, and
+he was going to carry it out. It is only fitting that he should have
+brought so just a punishment upon his own shoulders."
+
+"And yet there is something magnificent in a vengeance like his,"
+Ravenspur said, thoughtfully. "Now that everything is cleared up, how
+simple it seems. There is only one thing that puzzles me, and that is
+your connection with my unfortunate friend Louis Delahay. It seems a
+remarkable thing that both you sisters should have known Delahay. How
+did it come about?"
+
+"That I have just been explaining at some length," the Countess said.
+"But for your benefit I will go over the ground again."
+
+Ravenspur listened with the greatest interest to the story which the
+Countess had to tell. She told him vividly enough of the eventful
+night when she had made up her mind to leave her husband's roof, and
+how her life had been saved at a critical moment by a total stranger,
+who turned out to be Louis Delahay--the same Delahay who, years
+afterwards, met Maria Descarti and made her his wife. She told the
+story of the jewels, and how the time had come when she needed them,
+to turn into money to aid her in her search for Vera. Then she went on
+to speak of her meeting with Delahay.
+
+"One moment," Ravenspur said. "When Louis married you, Mrs. Delahay,
+did he not notice your extraordinary likeness to the Countess, whom he
+had befriended so many years ago?"
+
+"He couldn't," the Countess exclaimed. "Not only was our interview in
+the dark, but I was wearing a veil. Oh, you may say it was an
+extraordinary thing to trust my valuables to a perfect stranger, but
+more amazing things happen every day, and I was beside myself with
+grief and terror and despair at the time. At any rate, I did it, and I
+got my jewels back again. I can tell you, if you like, the story of
+that strange interview. I can describe how I went down to the studio
+with Mr. Delahay, and how we saw you there. But we are wasting time
+and it is getting late. There is only one thing to regret now, and
+that is the death of my sister's husband; but it has always been
+useless for a Descarti to expect anything like happiness in this
+world. Never was one of our family yet, who was not born to misery and
+despair. Still, one can now look forward to a more pleasant time. I am
+quite sure, after what has happened, that you will not try to stand
+between Vera and myself any longer, Lord Ravenspur. I can only thank
+you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done."
+
+"Vera has been very dear to me," Lord Ravenspur said, with some
+emotion. "I daresay we shall be able to explain matters
+satisfactorily, so that people will not be in a position to talk. And
+now, as it is getting so very late----"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+THE PASSING OF THE VENGEANCE.
+
+
+It was well into the following afternoon when the trained nurse came
+quietly down the stairs, and announced to Lord Ravenspur that her task
+was finished. Silva had died in his sleep. The troubled spirit was at
+rest, the tardy confession had been made, and Lord Ravenspur had no
+longer any occasion to fear the vengeance that had followed him so
+long. There would have to be an inquest, of course--as there was. But
+there was nothing much here to arouse public curiosity. A servant at
+the house on the common had been severely mauled by a savage dog
+prowling about, and he had succumbed to the shock. The newspapers had
+a few paragraphs, but in a day or two the incident was forgotten, nor
+was there any occasion to worry the owner of the house, seeing that
+the place had been taken by Silva in the proper name of his mistress.
+The servants had seen nothing either, so that scandal was entirely
+checked. It would, perhaps, be a difficult matter later on to explain
+the unexpected reappearance of Vera's mother, but it seemed to
+Ravenspur that he could see a way to solve that problem. And after the
+lapse of eighteen years, nobody would identify the Countess Flavio
+with the Italian scandal that had been a sensation in Europe back in
+the 'eighties. Ravenspur and the Countess were good enough friends
+now, and Mrs. Delahay was beginning to recover her health and strength
+again. Already the Fitzjohn Square murder had ceased to occupy public
+attention now that the tragedy had been solved, and there was no
+chance of the culprit being brought before an earthly tribunal. As to
+Cooney, he got off quite as lightly as he deserved. And there are
+always new sensations to follow the old.
+
+"I think, on the whole, you had better remain here for the present,"
+Ravenspur suggested. "You have the house on your hands for two months,
+and, really, it is a very pleasant place. Everybody is out of town for
+the present, and very few of my friends will be back in London again
+before the autumn. This will give us time to invent some plausible
+story to account for your reappearance. I don't like that kind of
+thing as a rule, but is is quite essential in this case."
+
+"What are you going to do yourself?" the Countess asked.
+
+"I am going to have a couple of quiet months on the continent. As you
+can imagine, my nerves are considerably shaken, and I am not so young
+as I used to be. I shall miss Vera, of course, but I think it is far
+better for her to stay here with you, so that you can get to know one
+another properly. But has it ever occurred to you, Countess, that
+before long Vera will have another and a closer guardian than either
+of our two selves?"
+
+"I suppose that is inevitable," the Countess said as she looked
+thoughtfully across the flower-beds. "Still, the fault is my own. I
+deliberately wasted eighteen years, and it is hardly to be expected
+that Vera--but don't let us anticipate."
+
+"I am afraid the mischief is done," Ravenspur smiled. "From a remark
+that Vera let slip the other night, I learnt a great deal that has
+been going on in her mind. Goodness knows how she got the impression,
+but she honestly believed that I was something more than her guardian,
+and that, between between you and myselfyou and myself--but I mustn't pain you by being
+more definite. Anyway, I now know why Vera appeared to be so unhappy
+and miserable a few weeks ago, and why she conceived the idea of
+leaving my house, and going out into the world to get her own living.
+To make matters quite plain, she and my nephew have fallen in love
+with one another and she thought that I should oppose the match. As a
+matter of fact, I did. But not for the reasons that Vera supposed.
+What I was afraid of was that the vengeance intended for me might have
+been transferred to Walter, had he married Vera then. Of course,
+matters are on a totally different footing now, and nobody is more
+delighted than myself. Walter is a fine fellow. He will be rich some
+of these days. He will succeed to the title at my death. If I were
+you, Countess, I would not interfere with that arrangement."
+
+"I am afraid it would be too late in any case," the Countess said,
+sadly. "I have no right to say a word. And, from what I have seen of
+your nephew, I should say that he will make a good husband for any
+girl. Still, it is rather a disappointment to find that I have been
+supplanted in this way, though I am bound to admit that the fault is
+entirely my own."
+
+Ravenspur was quite content to leave it discreetly at that, and all
+the more so because Vera herself was at that moment coming down the
+garden path. The girl's face was bright and happy now. The look of
+trouble had vanished from her eyes. The sun was shining full in her
+face, and as the Countess regarded her daughter critically she could
+see no suggestion of her father in her face. As Lord Ravenspur moved
+away, Vera took her place by her mother's side.
+
+"What have you two been plotting?" she asked gaily.
+
+"We have been discussing your future," the Countess replied. "Lord
+Ravenspur has been telling me something which, apparently, I ought to
+have guessed before. I was looking forward to a year or two in your
+company, but I am told that that is more than I can expect. There is a
+certain young man----"
+
+"You are speaking of Walter," Vera murmured. A little colour crept
+into her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and smiling. "Positively there
+has been no time to tell you about Walter. Do you know, mother, that
+Walter and myself have been lovers ever since I was fourteen? There
+has never been anybody like Walter in my eyes. And then, a few months
+ago, it seemed to come to me in a different way altogether. I suppose
+when I came to years of discretion I could see things more plainly.
+But how could I marry Walter when I had no name of my own? I felt sure
+that Lord Ravenspur would be sternly opposed to anything of the kind.
+And that is why I wanted to leave his house and earn my own living.
+But now that I am a Flavio, that is a different matter. We are quite
+as well born as the Ravenspurs, and so far as my guardian is
+concerned----"
+
+"The path is smooth enough now," the Countess smiled. "Lord Ravenspur
+told me just now that he was delighted with the turn of events. There
+is no girl he knows he would rather have for a niece than yourself.
+But I wasn't going to say that, Vera. What I want to impress upon you
+is this--I am not going to stand between you and your happiness for a
+moment. If your lover wants you now, go to him and don't consider me.
+Take your happiness when you get the opportunity. Let me before I die
+see one Descarti, at least, who has her heart's desire. And now we
+won't say any more about it, my child. After all, I am better treated
+than I deserve."
+
+The dusk was beginning to fall at length. The garden was fragrant with
+the scent of flowers, holding their heads high to reach the dropping
+dew. It was a warm evening, and the French windows in the dining-room
+were widely open. Dinner was almost over. The table was littered with
+fruit. There was just the suggestion of scented tobacco smoke hanging
+on the air. Ravenspur sat chatting almost gaily with the Countess and
+her sister. The gloom had lifted from his face now. He appeared to be
+years younger during the last few days. Vera rose from her chair and
+stood by the window, drinking in the subtle delights of the evening.
+Walter crossed over to her side, and placed his arm under hers.
+
+"Come outside," he said. "It is a shame to stay indoors a night like
+this. Besides, I have something important to say to you."
+
+Vera turned and smiled into her lover's face. She had never felt the
+least shy or awkward with him--they were too good friends for that.
+They walked in silence together down the path, with the roses rioting
+on either side. They came at length to a little secluded terrace
+looking over the common. Behind the bracken and the heather the sun
+was sinking in a track of golden glory. The after-light shone in
+Vera's eyes, and rendered them glorious. Walter turned to her eagerly.
+He had his arm about her waist now, her head bent towards his
+shoulder. It all seemed the most natural thing in the world, the
+fitting crown to their romance.
+
+"How long is it," Walter asked, "since you wanted to run away and
+leave us? I won't ask you why you wanted to go, because my uncle has
+told me that. My dearest girl, there is no occasion for you to blush
+and look uncomfortable. I am sure that your motives did you every
+credit. But we will pass over that. We need never allude to it again.
+I have spoken to your mother, and what my uncle's feelings are you
+know for yourself. All the dangers and troubles have gone now.
+Everything lies fair and smooth between us. And now, little Vera, when
+are we to be married?"
+
+Vera turned slowly and thoughtfully. She laid her hands upon Walter's
+shoulders, and looked steadily and lovingly into his smiling eyes. Her
+words were low and sweet.
+
+"Dear old boy," she said, "we have always been friends, and more than
+friends, and in my heart of hearts I have ever felt that it must come
+to this, whatever obstacles stood in the way. I am not so brave as I
+thought I was, Walter, and I don't believe I could have left you when
+it came to the pinch. Oh, I'll marry you, dear; I'll marry you gladly
+and willingly, and be the happiest girl in all the world. But not yet;
+not till our time is up here; not till I have spent the next two
+months with my mother. And you won't love me any the less because I
+have thought of her as well as you?"
+
+Walter kissed the sweet, serious lips.
+
+"It shall be as you say, sweetheart. And now let us go back, and tell
+the others all about it."
+
+
+"There is only one thing that remains," Walter said, as he and Lord
+Ravenspur walked up and down after dinner, with their cigars. "That
+photo, uncle. The one that you were so worried about, in the studio on
+the night when Sir James was attacked by Silva in mistake for you.
+Where did it come from, and why did it agitate you so?"
+
+"I had almost forgotten that," Ravenspur smiled. "Well, that photo was
+tied, with a small packet of jewels, round Vera's neck when I carried
+her away from Italy. I did not know till lately that it was a photo of
+her mother. She must have been a lovely woman then. Being an artist, I
+rather idealised that photograph--indeed, I painted the picture that
+Silva stole from it. It was only when the picture was finished that I
+discovered I had made a very strong likeness to Vera; and then I had
+my doubts. Here was Vera's mother in the flesh again. Had I done
+wrong? Had Flavio deceived me? The thing has troubled my conscience
+ever since. A woman with a face like that to be a fiend! Never. And
+yet----
+
+"Still, it is all over now. There have been faults on all sides, so
+that we can all afford to forget and forgive. And that, my dear boy,
+is all I have to say."
+
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Midnight Guest, by Fred M. White
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56960 ***