Part 86 (2/2)
Strangeways was removed privately, and there our knowledge ends. He has not been seen since--and a few hours after, Captain Palliser expressed his conviction, that the person he had seen through the West Room window was Mr. James Temple Barholm, Mr. Temple Temple Barholm left the house taking a midnight train, and leaving no clue as to his where-abouts or intentions.”
”Disappeared! ” said the duke. ”Where has he been looked for?”
The countenance of both Mr. Palford and his party expressed a certain degree of hesitance.
”Princ.i.p.ally in asylums and so-called sanatoriums,” Mr. Grimby admitted with a hint of reluctance.
”Places where the curiosity of outsiders is not encouraged,” said Palliser languidly. ”And where if a patient dies in a fit of mania there are always respectable witnesses to explain that his case was hopeless from the first.”
Mr. Hutchinson had been breathing hard occasionally as he sat and listened, and now he sprang up uttering a sound dangerously near a violent snort.
”Art tha accusin' that lad o' bein' black villain enough to be ready to do b.l.o.o.d.y murder?” he cried out.
”He was in a very tight place, Hutchinson,” Palliser shrugged his shoulders as he said it. ”But one makes suggestions at this stage--not accusations.”
That Hutchinson had lost his head was apparent to his daughter at least.
”Tha'd be in a tight place, my fine chap, if I had my way,” he flung forth irately. ”I'd like to get thy head under my arm.”
The roll of approaching wheels reached Miss Alicia.
”There's another carriage,” was her agitated exclamation. ”Oh, dear!
It must be Lady Joan!”
Little Ann left her seat to make her father return to his.
”Father, you'd better sit down,” she said, gently pus.h.i.+ng him in the right direction. ”When you can't prove a thing's a lie, it's just as well to keep quiet until you can.” And she kept quiet herself, though she turned and stood before Palliser and spoke with clear deliberateness. ”What you pretend to believe is not true, Captain Palliser. It's just not true,” she gave to him.
They were facing and looking at each other when Burrill announced Lady Joan Fayre. She entered rather quickly and looked round the room with a sweeping glance, taking them all in. She went to the duke first, and they shook hands.
”I am glad you are here! ” she said.
”I would not have been out of it, my dear young lady,” he answered, ”`for a farm' That's a quotation.”
”I know,” she replied, giving her hand to Miss Alicia, and taking in Palliser and the solicitors with a bow which was little more than a nod. Then she saw Little Ann, and walked over to her to shake hands.
”I am glad you are here. I rather felt you would be,” was her greeting. ”I am glad to see you.”
”Whether tha 'rt glad to see me or not I'm glad I'm here,” said Hutchinson bluntly. ”I've just been speaking a bit o' my mind.”
”Now, Father love!” Little Ann put her hand on his arm.
Lady Joan looked him over. Her hungry eyes were more hungry than ever.
She looked like a creature in a fever and worn by it.
”I think I am glad you are here too,” she answered.
Palliser sauntered over to her. He had approved the duke's air of being at once detached and inquiring, and he did not intend to wear the aspect of the personage who plays the unpleasant part of the pursuer and avenger. What he said was:
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