Part 39 (2/2)
The girl retired, a little crestfallen.
”Is there any other fool you would like to have called up and cross-examined, Duke?” sarcastically inquired the lady.
The duke made a gesture of negation. And the lady relapsed into painful silence.
And now another weary, weary hour crept by without bringing news of the lost one.
The watchers seemed to ”possess their souls” in patience, if not ”in peace.” There was really nothing to be done but to wait. There was no place where inquiries could be made. At this time of the year nearly all the fas.h.i.+onable world of London was out of town. Nor at any time had Salome any intimate acquaintances to whom she would have gone. Nor would it have been expedient just yet to apply to the detective police for help to search abroad for one who might of herself return home at any moment.
The Duke of Hereward and Lady Belgrade could only wait it in terrible anxiety, though with outward calmness, for what the night might bring forth.
But in what a monotonous and insensible manner all household routine continues, ”in well regulated families,” through the most revolutionary sort of domestic troubles.
The first dinner bell had rung; but neither of the anxious watchers had even heard it.
The groom of the chambers came in and lighted the gas in the drawing-rooms, and retired in silence.
Still the watchers sat waiting in a state of intense, repressed excitement.
The second dinner bell rang. And almost immediately the butler appeared at the door, and announced, with his formula:
”My lady is served,” and then:
”Will your grace join me at dinner?” courteously inquired Lady Belgrade, thinking at the same time of the unparalleled circ.u.mstance of the bridegroom dining without his bride upon his wedding day--”Will your grace join me at dinner?” she repeated, perceiving that he had not heard, or at least had not answered her question.
”I beg pardon. Pray, excuse me, your ladys.h.i.+p. I am really not equal--”
”I see! I see! Nor am I equal to going through what, at best, would be a mere form,” said her ladys.h.i.+p. Then turning toward the waiting butler, she said--”Remove the service, Sillery. We shall not dine to-day.”
The man bowed and withdrew.
And the two watchers, whose anxiety was fast growing into insupportable anguish, waited still, for still, as yet, they could do nothing else but wait and control themselves.
”Your grace has missed the last train,” said Lady Belgrade, at length, as the little cuckoo clock on the mantel shelf struck ten.
”Yes the night express leaves London Bridge station for Dover at ten-thirty, and it is a full hour's drive from Kensington,” replied the duke.
And both secretly thanked fortune that the wedding guests had all departed before the bride's mysterious absence from the house at such a time had become known; and they knew not but that ”the happy pair had left by the tidal train for Dover, _en route_ for their continental tour,”--as per wedding programme. And both silently hoped that the household servants would not talk.
The time crept wearily on. The clock struck eleven.
”I cannot endure this frightful suspense one moment longer! I never heard of such a case in all the days of my life! A bride to vanish away on her bridal day! Duke of Hereward you are her husband! WHAT IS TO BE DONE?” exclaimed Lady Belgrade, starting up from her seat and giving full sway to all the repressed excitement of the last few hours.
”My dear lady,” said the duke, controlling his own emotions by a strong effort of will, and speaking with a calmness he did not feel--”My dear lady, the first thing you should do, should be to command yourself.
Listen to me, dear Lady Belgrade. I have waited here in constrained quietness, hoping for our Salome's return from moment to moment, and fearing to expose her to gossip by any indiscreet haste in seeking her abroad. But I can wait no longer. I must commence the search abroad at once. I shall go immediately to a skillful detective, whom I know from reputation, and put the case in his hands. What seems to us so alarming and incomprehensible, may be to a man of his experience simple and clear enough. We are too near the fact to see it truly in its proper light.
This man I understand to be faithful and discreet, one who may be intrusted with the investigation of the most delicate affairs. I will employ him immediately, in the confidence that no publicity will be given to this mystery. In the meanwhile, my dear Lady Belgrade, I counsel you to call the household servants all together. Do not inform them of the nature of my errand out, but caution them to silence and discretion as to the absence of their lady. You will allow me to confide this trust to you?”
”a.s.suredly, Duke! And let me tell you that these servants are all so idolatrously devoted to their mistress, that they would never breathe, or suffer to be breathed in their presence, one syllable that could, in the remotest degree, reflect upon her dignity,” said the lady.
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