Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/197

 manner shown by that wretched creature, and the plausible story she told of her sister having gone to the seaside, I confess, lulled my suspicions to sleep. The story was queer, but it was not too improbable. Then came the visit paid Prudence by a drunken woman, who insisted on seeing her, and made such an uproar in the hall. Mrs. Dumaresq declares that she heard her say something about a cheque and an infant—"

"So I did," corroborated Mrs. Dumaresq.

"Well I didn't catch the words, but events have proved that you were right. Next followed"—she hesitated.

"Her fainting," said Mrs. Whitley.

"Yes, her fainting suddenly in the drawing-room, when Major Jones was reading out something about that horrid baby farming case. I did not connect these events, Mrs. Dumaresq did."

"Yes," said Mrs. Dumaresq, with modest triumph. "I observed her face of terror, and remembering what the woman had said, I put two and two together."

"Well, you mentioned the matter to me, and I confess I was sceptical. My suspicions ran in a different groove, but it now seems that we were both right."