Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/102

90 "She's not—dead?"

"Dead! Good gracious, no! Nothing of the kind." "Then what has happened to her? Tell me! Quick! Don't you see that I'm on tenterhooks?"

"First of all let me be certain of my ground. I take it that that is Miss Moore."

I handed her the, by this time, historical photograph.

"Of course it is. What do you mean by asking? Where is she? Who are you? What have you done to her? Don't stand there as if you were afraid to open your mouth!"

"The truth is, Miss Adair, that I am rather at a loss for words with which to express myself. But, if you will bear with me, I will endeavour to make myself as plain as I can; it is rather a difficult task which I have to perform."

It was a difficult task, nor was it made easier by the two shrewd eyes which were regarding me as if I were some curious and unnecessary kind of creature.