Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/278



two men stared at each other in puzzlement. This was a development that they had not looked for. Last night—not so early, either—they had left Jessica and the old woman Elizabeth here. Nothing was said about any proposed departure—that is, except the proposed departure of Val, which had been suggested by Jessica, and which he never had any intention of carrying out, even had not Elizabeth stopped them and explained the case.

He knew for certain that Jessica intended to stay here for a time; certainly she had had no intention of leaving last night. If she had left, it had been a sudden affair. Perhaps

“I think this is where the fine Italian mitt of old boy Teck comes in,” put in Eddie, speaking Val’s thought. “What do you think, sir?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” answered Val. “They went awfully quick, it seems to me. The point at issue is—where did she go and where is she now—to say nothing of why did she go?”

They stood in the little living room and discussed the matter from several different angles.

“It seems to me,” said Val, “that if she has gone some place in a hurry—in such a hurry—it must be against her will. The only one who would make her do anything against her will is Teck, of course. That