Part 39 (1/2)
REVEALS SOME SECRETS.
For some time we rushed hither and thither in breathless anxiety, convinced that having burned all her letters, her intentions were those of self-destruction.
Some untoward event had evidently occurred of which we knew nothing, and she had been forced to the last extremity. We had explored all my love's favourite walks, but in that gusty storm that swept across the park we could hear nothing. It was not exactly dark, but the moon was overcast by heavy rain-clouds, and pa.s.sing through that portion of the grounds known as ”the wilderness,” a wild tangle of rhododendrons and laurels, with big old trees from which the leaves fell in showers upon us, we at length approached the lake, a large sheet of water in the centre of the wild uncultivated spot, where the moorhen nested undisturbed and the lordly heron roosted high above. The spot was lonely and unfrequented--the place, no doubt, she would select if she really intended to take her own life.
We both approached it, fearing the worst. The shrill cries of the night-birds sounded above the moaning of the wind, while before us lay the broad sheet of water grey and mysterious in the clouded moon.
We had walked some distance along its edge, when Keene suddenly gripped my arm, and whispered--
”Look!--look ahead! can't you see her?--with a man!”
I strained my eyes, and there, sure enough, wearing a dark cloak, she stood erect, statuesque, with the pale light falling upon her white face, while the man had apparently gripped her arm and dragged her from the water's edge.
Next moment I was beside the pair, and to my dismay recognised that her companion was the fellow Logan, whom I had last seen entering that dark unlit house outside Milan.
”What's the meaning of this?” I cried in quick anger. ”Release that lady, and tell me why I find you here with her.”
”I am here to save her,” was his calm reply. ”I have already prevented her taking a fatal step, and if you will accompany me to the Hall I think you will find that, instead of proving myself her enemy, I shall show her that I am her friend. You think evil of me, I know--both of you. But an innocent woman's life shall not be sacrificed. I came here from London to-night, in order to meet another lady, the Countess of Stanchester, but by good fortune I met Lady Lolita, and she has told me the truth.”
”Of what?” inquired Keene.
”Of what I will reveal on our return to the Hall,” was the man's answer.
”You know much that you have not told, but to save her ladys.h.i.+p here, I will now make the whole thing plain.”
”But why have you not spoken before? You had plenty of opportunity,”
Keene remarked.
”Because something that Lady Lolita has just told me makes it plain how cleverly her enemies succeeded in closing my lips. Come, it is cold.
Her ladys.h.i.+p is s.h.i.+vering.”
”Come with me, Lolita,” I said, and linking my arm in hers led her back along the path through the wilderness and across her Saints' Garden to the Hall.
The four of us were silent, all too occupied with own our thoughts to discuss the matter with each other. The sudden determination of the man Logan showed me that he meant at last to tell all that he knew.
”Lolita,” I whispered into her ear, just as we were about to enter the house, ”whatever caused you to contemplate such a terrible step to-night?”
A shudder ran through her as she answered--
”Because--because of the letter Marigold sent to me by Weston. She told me that to-night, because I refused to give you up, she would tell George the truth!”
The man Logan overheard her answer, and urged her to remain patient.
”Take us at once to Lady Stanchester, Mr Woodhouse,” he urged, as we went in by a side entrance to avoid any guests who might be playing bridge in the large hall.
Thereupon I rang for Slater, and told him to make inquiries where her ladys.h.i.+p was, and to take us straight to her.
Ten minutes later the old butler returned saying--
”Her ladys.h.i.+p is with the Earl in the blue boudoir, sir.” And eyeing Logan with some surprise, he added, ”Will you step this way?”