Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/68

Rh “And just then, Godfrey, as I glanced out of the window, I saw a cab dash up to the house and a woman get out of it. I knew her on the instant, and I shouldn’t care to go through another such moment of doubt and suspicion and agony. For it was worse than I had thought. She had not used her sister’s carriage—then, at least, she would have been in the care of a trusted coachman—she had hired a cab”

“Yes,” said Godfrey drily. “The Delroy carriage would have been too conspicuous; besides, she wanted to keep her errand a secret, even from the servants.”

“Do you mean”

“No matter; go ahead with your story, then I’ll tell you mine.”

Drysdale was shaking convulsively, but he managed to go on.

“As I said, I saw a cab drive up and a woman get out She ran up the steps, the door opened, and Miss Croydon came into the room. Even in the dim light, I could see how white her face was.

“‘Grace!’ cried Mrs. Delroy, stepping forward at sight of her. ‘Grace!’

“Miss Croydon turned to her and held out her arms.

“‘Yes, I’ve seen him, Edith,’ she said, in a voice that I shall never forget. ‘I should have taken your advice. I should not have gone.’

“‘You shall not go again, dear!’

“‘No,’ agreed the other, ‘not again!’

“There was something in her tone that caught her sister’s ear.

“‘What is it, Grace?’ she demanded fiercely. ‘Tell me!’