Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/44

32 I was with him till rather late, and I believe he had a visitor after I had left."

This I said remembering what Turner had told me about his brother coming down the stairs, with the parcel in his arms.

"I think he must be out now—at least, I can't make him hear. And the door's locked; I never knew him have the door locked when he was in."

"Perhaps he's ill," I suggested. "I'll slip along the balcony and see. You wait here till I come back."

I do not know what induced me to make such a proposition, except that I was struck by the man's words, and impelled by a sudden impulse. On every floor a balcony runs right round the building. Lawrence and I had often made use of it to reach each other's rooms—his are the first set round the corner. I put on a pair of slippers and a dressing-gown, and started.

It was a chilly morning, with a touch of fog in the air, and it had been raining. I made what haste I could. The window of Lawrence's dining-room opened directly I turned the handle. I went inside, and I saw what I then instantly and clearly realised I had all along felt sure that I should see. I sprang back upon the balcony. Atkins was looking out of my window. I called to him.

"Come here! Quick! There's something wrong!"