Page:William Le Queux - The Czar's Spy.djvu/120

 CHAPTER XI

THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS

"MR. GREGG," exclaimed the girl with agitation, as she put forth her black-gloved hand. "I — I suppose you know — you've heard all about the discovery to-day up at the wood? I need not tell you anything about it."

"Yes, Miss Leithcourt, I only wish you would tell me about it," I said gravely, inviting her to a chair and seating myself. "I've heard some extraordinary story about a man being found dead, but I've been in Dumfries nearly all day. Who is the man?"

"Ah! that we don't know," she replied, pale-faced and anxious. Her attitude was as though she wished to confide in me and yet still hesitated to do so.

"You've been waiting for me quite a long time, Davis tells me. I regret that you should have done this. If you had left word that you wished to see me, I would have come over to you at once."

"No. I wanted to see you alone — that's the reason I am here. They must not know at home that I've been over here, so I purposely asked the man not to announce me to your aunt."

"You want to see me privately," I said in a low