Part 26 (1/2)

When Harding returned to the bank the next morning, he presented such a careworn appearance that Wallace was genuinely concerned.

”Hullo,” he exclaimed, ”you look as if you had had enough of acting night-nurse to wounded men. It has been too much for you, my lad.”

”It has been an anxious night,” Harding replied. ”At first both were fairly well, but towards morning old Mr. Dudgeon became very bad. You have heard all about the affair, I suppose?”

”I have had a visit from Mr. Gale. There was only one thing he could talk about. You will guess what that was. The heroism of Mrs. Eustace.”

A cloud came over Harding's face at the mention of her name.

”I have a message for her from the doctor. She offered to return to-day if he wanted her help. He asked me to let her know how bad the old man had been, and is, and say he would be glad if she could go out at once.

I've had no sleep all night and am fairly tired out. If you don't mind, I'll go and have a few hours' rest.”

”Why, of course, my lad, I'll manage the office by myself all right. Go and get all the sleep you can. You have earned it.”

”Will you let her know what the doctor said?”

”I'll send word to Mr. Gale--I've no doubt he'll let her know,” Wallace said with a short laugh.

”But isn't she here?”

”No. Gale said the place was in darkness when they pa.s.sed and rather than disturb me she went on to the hotel, where they put her up. Very considerate of her, I must admit. She seems to have made the most of her time on the drive back with Gale, for he knew all about her having to leave the bank premises, and told me he had secured a vacant cottage there is in the towns.h.i.+p for her. But don't waste time talking, my lad.

You look worn out. Go and get to bed for a few hours. I'll see she has the doctor's message.”

Harding went to his room with heavy steps. He locked the door and sat down, took the crumpled letter out of his pocket and read it through again.

Then, sitting on the side of the bed with the letter in his hand, he stared at it as he asked himself once more the question which had been haunting him since the first rush of indignation pa.s.sed.

What should he do with it?

Had the letter come into his possession the night of the scene in the boudoir, he would have had no hesitation. But much had happened since then. He had learned what he believed was the truth about the Eustace marriage; he had learned that the love he had treasured so dearly was still his. It was the latter which made it so hard for him to know what course to follow.

A doubt had come into his mind, a doubt which operated in her favour. To hand the note over to the police was to admit he had no faith left in her, and he had faith. He could not bring himself to regard her as being so absolutely conscienceless as the circ.u.mstances suggested. Rather did he lean towards the idea that, after all, despite the evidence of the facts as they stood, she was innocent. And on that point he wanted to be sure rather than sorry.

The opinion of another would be a help to him in coming to the right conclusion, but to whom could he turn?

He dare not consult Wallace, who was already prejudiced against her; Brennan was out of the question. There was only one other--Durham--and he was out of reach, and would be so for some time to come.

So the matter came back to where it started, and Harding, urged one way by his love and another by his reason, ultimately adopted a middle course.

He determined to confront her with the letter, and tear the mask of hypocrisy from her face--if one were there--at the first opportunity.

For the present the letter should be placed where no one but himself could find it.

Taking off his coat, he cut through the seam of the lining, placed the letter inside, st.i.tched it to the lining and resewed the seam.

”I will not condemn her unheard,” he said. ”She shall have the chance of defending herself to me before I denounce her. But, if this is true, then G.o.d help her--and me too.”

He flung himself on the bed. He was too tired to worry further. The irksome question was shelved--for the moment there was peace, and before that moment pa.s.sed Harding was sound asleep.

Before he awakened, Mrs. Eustace visited the bank, received the doctor's message and went on her way to Taloona.