Part 99 (1/2)
”Then _you_ know nothing?”
”Nothing! And you?”
”Nothing whatever!”
Drake bowed his head again. ”I knew it was a lie--that she had gone after you--I never believed that story.”
”Would to G.o.d she had!” said Storm fervently, and Drake flinched, but bore himself bravely. ”When did she go?”
”Two days ago, apparently.”
”Has anybody looked for her?”
”_I_ have--everywhere--everywhere I can think of. But this London----”
”Yes, yes; I know--I know!”
”For two days I have never rested, and all last night.”
Storm's eyes were watching the twitchings of Drake's face. He had been sitting uneasily on his chair, and now he rose from it.
”Are you going already?” said Drake.
”Yes,” said Storm. Then in a husky voice he added: ”I don't know if we shall ever meet again, you and I. When death breaks the link that binds people----”
”For G.o.d's sake don't say that!”
”But it _is_ so, isn't it?”
”Heaven knows! Certainly the letter she left behind--the letter to Rosa---- Poor child, she was such a creature of joy--so bright, so brilliant! And then to think of her---- I was much to blame--I came between you. But if I had once realized----”
Drake stopped, and the men fixed their eyes on each other for a moment, and then turned their heads away.
”I'm afraid I've done you a great injustice, sir,” said Storm.
”Me?”
”I thought she was only your toy, your plaything. But perhaps” (his voice was breaking)--”perhaps you loved her too.”
Drake answered, almost inaudibly, ”With all my heart and soul!”
”Then--then we have _both_ lost her!”
”Both!”
There was silence for a moment. The hands of the two men met and clasped and parted.
”I must go,” said Storm, and he moved across the room with a look of utter weariness.
”But where are you going to?”