Part 39 (1/2)

The Duke of Hereward and Lady Belgrade were once more left alone together.

Again their eyes met in anxious scrutiny.

”What do you think now, Duke?” inquired her ladys.h.i.+p.

”I think the disappearance of the d.u.c.h.ess is connected with the visit of that strange woman. She may have been an unfortunate beggar, who, with some story of extreme distress, so worked upon Salome's sympathies as to draw her away from home, to see for herself, and give relief to the sufferers. Or--I shudder to think of it--she may have been a thief, or the companion of thieves, and with just such a story, decoyed the d.u.c.h.ess out for purposes of plunder. This does not certainly seem to be a probable theory of the disappearance, but it does really seem the only possible one,” concluded the duke, in a grave voice.

And though he spoke calmly, his soul was shaken with a terrible anxiety that every moment now increased.

”But is it at all likely that Salome, even with all her excessive benevolence, could have been induced to leave her home at such a time as this, even at the most distressing call of charity? Would she not have given money and sent a servant?” inquired Lady Belgrade.

”Under normal conditions she would have done as you say. But remember, dear madam, that Salome is not in a normal condition. Remember that it is but three months since she suffered an almost fatal nervous shock in the discovery of her father's murdered body on her own wedding morning.

Remember that it is scarcely six weeks since her recovery from the nearly fatal brain fever that followed--if indeed she has ever fully recovered.

_I_ do not believe that she has, or that she will until I shall have taken her abroad, when total change of scene, with time and distance, may restore her,” sighed the duke.

”I thought she was looking very well for the last few weeks,” said Lady Belgrade.

”Yes, until within the last few days, in which she seems to have suffered a relapse, easily accounted for, I think, by the a.s.sociation of ideas. The near approach of her wedding day brought vividly back to her mind the tragic events of her first appointed wedding morning, and caused the illness that has been noticed by all our friends this day. The excitement of the occasion has augmented this illness. Salome has been suffering very much all day. Every one noticed it, although, with the self-possession of a gentlewoman, she went calmly through the ceremonies at the church, and through the breakfast here. But I think she must have broken down in her room, and while in that state of nervous prostration she must have become an easy dupe to that beggar, or thief, whichever her strange visitor may have been,” said the duke; and while he spoke so calmly on such an anxious and exciting subject, he, too, under circ.u.mstances of extreme trial and suspense, exhibited the self-possession and self-control which is the birthright of the true gentleman no less than of the true gentlewoman.

”It may be as you think. It would be no use to question the servants further. They know no more than we do. We can do nothing more now but wait, with what patience we may, for the return of that eccentric girl,”

said Lady Belgrade, with a deep sigh, as she settled herself down in her chair.

Another hour pa.s.sed--an hour of enforced inactivity, yet of unspeakable anxiety. Three hours had now elapsed since the mysterious disappearance of the bride; and yet no news of her came.

”She does not return! This grows insupportable!” exclaimed Lady Belgrade, at length, losing all patience, and starting up from her chair.

”She _may_ be detained by the sick bed, or the death bed, of some sufferer who has sent for her,” replied the duke, huskily, trying to hope against hope.

”As if she would so absent herself on her wedding day, on the eve of her wedding tour!” exclaimed the lady, beginning to walk the floor in a thoroughly exasperated state of mind.

”Of course she would not, in her normal mental condition; but, as I said before--”

”Oh, yes, I know what you said before. You insinuated that Salome may be insane from the latent effects of her recent brain fever, developed by the excitement of the last few days. And, Heaven knows, you may be right!

It looks like it! Mysteriously gone off on her wedding day, in the interim between the wedding breakfast and the wedding tour! Gone off alone, no one knows where, without having left an explanation or a message for any one. What can have taken her out? Where can she be? Why don't she return? And night coming on fast. If she does not return within half an hour, you will miss the next train also, Duke,” exclaimed Lady Belgrade, pausing in her restless walk, and throwing herself heavily into her chair again.

”Perhaps,” said the Duke, in great perplexity, ”we had better have the lady's maid up again, and question her more strictly in regard to the strange visitor's name and address; for I feel certain that the disappearance of the d.u.c.h.ess is immediately connected with the visit of that woman. If we can, by judicious questions, so stimulate the memory of the girl as to obtain accurate information about the name and residence, we can send and make inquiries.”

For all answer, Lady Belgrade arose and rung the bell for about the twentieth time that afternoon.

And Margaret Watson was again called to the drawing-room and questioned.

”Indeed, if you please, my lady, I am very sorry. I would give anything in the world if I could only remember exactly what the old person's name was, and where she lived. But indeed, my lady, what with being very much engaged with waiting on her grace, and packing up the last little things for the journey, and getting together the dressing-bags and such like, and having of my mind on them and not on the woman, and no ways expecting anything like this to happen, I wasn't that interested in the visitor to tax my memory with her affairs. But I know her name was a common one, like Smith or Jones, and I _think_ it was Jones. And I know she said she lived on Westminster Road or Blackfriars Road, or some other road leading over a bridge, which I remember because it made me think about the river. But I couldn't tell which,” said the girl in answer to the cross-questioning.

”And is that all you can tell us?” inquired Lady Belgrade.

”I beg pardon, my lady, but that is all I can remember,” meekly replied the girl.

”Then you might as well remember nothing. You can go!” said Lady Belgrade, in deep displeasure.