Part 58 (1/2)
”Not at that time;” flus.h.i.+ng slightly.
”Go on, Miss Wardour.”
She resumes her story, telling all that she can remember of the call, of Frank's return, and of Sybil's letter.
”About this letter, I would rather not speak, Mr. Wedron; it can not affect the case.”
”It _does_ affect the case,” he replies quickly. ”Pray omit no details just here.”
She resumes: telling the story of that long day, of Clifford Heath's second visit, and of the news of Sybil Lamotte's flight.
She tells how, at sunset, she opened the strange letter, and how, bewildered and startled out of herself, she put it into Clifford Heath's hands, and called upon him to advise her.
Almost word for word she repeats his comments, and then she hesitates.
”Go on,” says Mr. Wedron, impatiently; ”what happened next?”
Next she tells of the sudden appearance of the strange detective; and here O'Meara seems very much interested, and Mr. Wedron very little.
He does not interrupt her, nor display much interest, until she reaches the point in her narrative when she discovers the loss of Sybil's letter.
”Well!” he cries, as she hesitates once more. ”Go on! go on! about that letter.”
”Gentlemen,” says Constance, contritely, ”here, if I could, I would spare myself. When Doctor Heath came, to return the bottle borrowed by the detective, I accused him of taking the letter.”
”What!” starting violently; ”you suspected him?”
”I insulted him.”
”And he--”
”He resented the insult in the only way possible to a gentleman. He accepted it in silence, and turned his back upon me.”
”Ah! and since that time?”
”Since that time I have received no intimation that Doctor Heath is aware of my existence.”
”Ah-h-h!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.es Mr. Wedron; ”and you have not found the letter?”
”No. Its fate remains a mystery.”
”Do you still believe that Doctor Heath could account for its disappearance, if he would?”
”On sober second thought, I could see no motive for taking the letter.
I was hasty in my accusation. I came to that decision long ago.”
”You were deeply grieved over the _mesalliance_ of Miss Lamotte?”
”She was my dearest friend.”
”Was?” inquiringly.