Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/115

102 "Your uncle is disengaged?"

"Yes; he is there, and expecting you."

With that he showed William Shaw into the inner room, and, while appearing to shut the door, left a crack of it open. The old solicitor grasped his visitor's hand without rising, and, pointing to a chair opposite to him, began at once.

"I knew you would come. I felt sure I should see you, to talk over this deplorable business, Shaw."

"First of all, Twisden, where is she? That's the first question I want to ask."

"I do not know exactly; and when I do learn it, that is what I am pledged not to reveal."

"Not to reveal to me, her guardian? God damn it! That is rather too much! I"

"Hear me to an end, Shaw. Your niece is in a very excited state. I really believe it is far better to let her have her own way for a time, until she is calmed down. Of course, this won't last—it can't last. If you put detectives on her track, no doubt you can find her. But of what use would that be? You can't force her to go back to you; you wouldn't if you could. I had it all out with her here, and she only told me her plans on condition that I would not reveal them."

"But why am I not to be told?" cried William, returning to the charge with the helpless irascibility of a man incapable of taking in more than one idea. "I am her guardian, and her only living relation. Why am I to be kept in the dark? It's monstrous!"

"You see," began again the old solicitor, cautiously, "she has quarrelled with your wife; and she has taken a