Part 15 (1/2)

”I am sorry,” I said, ”but there is no doubt that up to the present, at any rate, your uncle has not been here. I am quite sure, though,” I added, ”that there is no cause for alarm. A hundred slight accidents might have happened to detain him for half an hour or so.”

She glanced at the clock.

”It is more than that,” she said softly.

”Tell me,” I asked, ”would you like me to communicate with the police?

They are in touch with the hospitals, and if any misfortune has happened to your uncle--which, after all, is scarcely likely--we should hear of it directly.”

She shook her head vigorously. The idea, for some reason, seemed to displease her.

”No!” she said. ”Why should we appeal to the police? What have they to do with my uncle? I am quite sure that he would not wish that.”

”I presume,” I said, ”that nothing of this sort has ever happened before?--I mean that he has not left you without warning?”

”Not under the same circ.u.mstances,” she admitted. ”And yet, he has a very queer way of absenting himself every now and then.”

”For long?” I asked.

”It depends,” she answered. ”Never for any length of time, though.”

”After all,” I remarked, ”you cannot have seen such a great deal of him. He lives in South America, does he not, and you have never been out of France?”

”It is true,” she murmured.

”I noticed,” I continued thoughtfully, ”that he seemed disturbed as we neared London.”

She drew out the pins from her hat, and with a little gesture of relief threw it upon the table.

”Please sit down for a minute,” she said. ”I want to think.”

She leaned forward upon the couch, her head buried in her hands. I felt that she desired silence, so I said nothing. Several moments pa.s.sed, then there came a sudden and unexpected interruption. The bell of the telephone instrument, which stood between us upon the table, commenced to ring. Her hands fell from before her face. She looked across at me with parted lips and wide-open eyes. I made a movement towards the instrument, but she checked me.

”Stop!” she said. ”Wait a moment! Let me think!”

She had risen to her feet. We stood looking at one another across the table. Between us was the telephone instrument and the bell which had just rung out its summons.

”Are you not going to answer it?” I asked.

”I am afraid!” she answered. ”I do not know what has come over me. I am afraid! Take up the receiver. Tell me who it is who speaks.”

”You are sure that you wish it?” I asked.

”At once!” she insisted. ”They will have gone away.”

The bell rang again. I took the receiver into my hands.

”Who is there?” I asked.

”Is that the apartment of Mr. Delora?” was the reply.