Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/163

Rh midst, a change come over that little company of conspirators. I saw the silent debate resumed between those wary and guarded figures. But it was resumed with a difference. It seemed to be apprehension which I now saw on their faces. In the case of the two old uncles, for a moment or two, I even imagined I could read fear there. With Doctor Klinger it was perplexity touched with some frowning suspicion which I could not fathom. With the customarily calm-eyed Miss Ledwidge it was open and involuntary bewilderment and I was foolish enough, at the time, to think that I had overpowered them with my audacity. But there were certain things which I was destined not to find out until later.

"And you insist on this change?" the yellow-faced old lawyer was asking me, at a grim nod of the head from Ezra Bartlett. I imagined, of course, that the old scoundrel had surrendered.

"Yes," I whispered back, as he looked apprehensively over his shoulder, for the scattered group at the far end of the room were betraying renewed signs of restiveness.

Doctor Klinger and the nurse, at a sign from Ezra Bartlett, carried a small table to the bedside. The old lawyer seated himself before this table. Then