Page:The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg (1928).djvu/52

 "And that's all there is. After the murder she left the town and nobody knew where she went until I saw her in the Piazza San Giovanni two years ago. I couldn't believe my eyes at first, and then I seized Miss Fosdick and said, 'That's that Spragg woman, isn't it, Gertrude?' and Miss Fosdick looked too, and said, 'Yes!' We didn't speak to her, because she seemed so queer and we didn't want to attract attention." She turned suddenly to Father d'Astier. "I suppose that was not humble of me or Christian or Catholic, but I hadn't then received the light."

There was something about this remark and its entire unexpectedness which made Winnery start and ask himself, "What is she up to now? What game is she playing with Father d'Astier?"

"I remember it was two years ago because it was at the Easter procession and it rained on Easter and she was kneeling in the rain and was wearing a big picture hat covered with faded flowers. And the colors were running in the rain."

At that moment Miss Fosdick appeared, carrying a huge wrought-iron candlestick almost as tall and almost as heavy as herself. In it, burning, there was one of those fat round candles which are to be seen everywhere in the churches in Italy. In place of a flame there was an electric bulb. She came in quietly, put down the candlestick and retired silently into the shadows.

The d'Orobelli rose abruptly and said, "What a very interesting story! But I am late. I must go."