Part 52 (2/2)
”I excused myself to Heath, and, just as I was leaving the office, Lamotte came in. He challenged me, in badinage, as though he had a right to say who should visit Wardour. He overheard me telling Heath where I was going.”
”Yes.”
”During my call, I made some allusion to Lamotte, speaking of him as her accepted lover. She did not deny the charge my language implied, and I came away believing her engaged to Lamotte. When I returned to Heath's office, Lamotte had gone, and Heath asked me, rather abruptly, if I believed Miss Wardour would marry Lamotte. I replied, that I did believe it then, for the first time.”
”Ah, yes! Mr. Vandyck, are you aware that on this same day, this Monday of which you speak, Clifford Heath received an anonymous note, in a feminine hand; warning him against danger, and begging him to leave town?”
”What, sir?” starting and coloring, hotly.
”Ah, you are aware of that fact. Did you see that note, Mr. Vandyck?”
”I did,” uneasily.
”How did Heath treat it?”
”With utter indifference.”
”So! And did he, to your knowledge, receive other warnings?”
”I am quite sure he did not.”
”During your call at Wardour Place, did Miss Wardour mention Doctor Heath.”
”She--did,” reluctantly.
”She _did_. Can you recall what was said.”
”It was soon after that street encounter with Burrill. I related the circ.u.mstance; she had not heard of it.”
”And did she seem unfriendly toward Heath?”
”On the contrary I think she was, and is, his friend.”
”You met Lamotte in Heath's office. Does Lamotte go there often?”
”Why, he made a pretence of studying with Heath; but he never stuck very close to anything; he had read a little in the city, I believe.”
”Then he is quite at home in Heath's office?”
”Quite at home.”
”Thank you, Mr. Vandyck.” Mr. Wedron draws back from the table and smiles blandly upon poor Ray. ”Thank you, sir. You are an admirable witness; for the second time to-day you have evaded leading questions, and withheld more than you have told. But I won't bear malice. I see that you are resolved not to tell why Miss Wardour summoned you to her presence on that particular day; so, I won't insist upon it--I will find out in some other way.”
”Thank you,” retorts Ray, rather stiffly. ”It will be a relief to me, if you can do so. Can I answer any more questions, sir?”
”Not to-night. And, Mr. Vandyck, as a friend of Clifford Heath's, we ask you to help us, and to share our confidence. Now, we must find out first, if Constance Wardour _is_ engaged to Lamotte; and second, the cause of the estrangement between herself and Doctor Heath. Can you suggest a plan?”
”Yes,” replies Ray, a smile breaking over his face. ”Send for Mrs.
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