Page:William Le Queux - The Czar's Spy.djvu/392

370 then warned my mother and myself to prepare to leave. But while we were packing, it appeared that Chater, who had followed, was shown to the study by the butler, or rather he entered there himself, being well acquainted with the house. Thus the two men, now bitter enemies, met. A fierce quarrel must have ensued, and Chater was stunned and concealed. Woodroffe, of course believing he had killed him. My father entered the study again, and seeing only Woodroffe there, did not know what had occurred. Some words probably arose, when my father again turned and left. Then we fled to Carlisle and on to Newcastle, and next morning were on board the yacht out in the North Sea, afterwards landing a Rotterdam. Those," she added, "are briefly the facts as my poor father related them to me."

"And what of poor Elma — and of her secret? When, I wonder, shall I see her?" I cried in despair.

"You will see her now, signore," answered Olinto. "A servant of the Princess Zurloff brought her to London this afternoon, and I have just conveyed her from the station. She is in the next room, in ignorance, however, that you are here."

And without another word I fled forward joyfully and threw open the folding-doors which separated me from my silent love.

Silent yes! But she could, nevertheless, tell her story — surely the strangest that any woman has ever lived to tell.