Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/50

32 had been having a discussion about one of the lines in Macbeth. Then we saw that the book was gone."

"Do you know of any one having entered the room, besides yourself and Mr. Barrister, between four and ten?"

"Mary, my maid, was in with the tea things; that's all I know."

"And you don't suspect her?"

"Oh, no! She has been with me for years."

"And the caller?"

Mrs. Barrister thought for a moment before answering. Then she said, "It was a Mr. White. I confess I don't like him very well. But he's more a friend of my husband's than mine. In fact, my husband came in before Mr. White left; so I went up-stairs and left the two men alone. I had an idea there was some trouble between them."

"Does your husband belong to any club?"

"Yes, the Booklovers, and the Stage Club. So does Mr. White. Why?"

"Oh," said Valeska carelessly, "Mr. Barrister seemed such a man of the world,—just the man to belong to clubs, you know. But who showed Mr. White out the door?"

"Why, Mr. Barrister went with him himself. You see, it couldn't have been possible for Mr. White to have concealed the book; it's quite large, you know?"

"You have looked everywhere, of course?"

"Oh, yes. We went immediately to work, searched Mary's room at her request, and then everywhere else in the house. It simply isn't here."

At this moment Astro opened the door and walked silently into the room.