Part 10 (1/2)

Mary had a post-card, too, from Calais; just a feords with the promise of a letter at the end of the journey She showed it to ood-bye once , and was adjourned for a week Only formal and preliminary evidence was taken--e to leave next day Inspector Freeman made the orthodox statement that ”the police were in possession of a clue which they were following up;” and I had a chat with him afterwards, and tried to ferret out about the clue, but he was close as wax

We parted on the best of teruess that my interest in the affair was more than the natural interest of one as as personally concerned in it as I ith the insatiable curiosity of the journalist superadded Whatever I had been yesterday, I was fully master of myself to-day

Jim was out when I reached Chelsea, somewhat to my relief; and Mary was alone for once

She welcomed me cordially, as usual, and commended ht, Maurice; you weren't a bit like yourself And what on earth did you -room--about Anne?” she asked

”Sheer , and I'm afraid I ell, a bit screwed So fire away, if you want to lecture h, on my honor, it was the first drink I'd had all day!”

I knew by the way she had spoken that Jim had not confided his suspicions to her I didn't expect he would

She accepted ood little soul she is

”I never thought of that It's not like you, Maurice But I won't lecture you this tiuess you felt pretty bad after finding that poor fellow I felt shuddery enough even at the thought of it, considering that we knew hiether such a little while before Has the murderer been found yet?”

”Not that I know of The inquest's adjourned, and I'm off to-morrow

I'll have to coe for Anne? I shall see her on Wednesday”

”No, only what I've already written: that I hope her father's better, and that she'd persuade him to come back with her She was to have stayed with us all su to send her trunks on till she writes definitely that she can't return My private opinion of Mr Pendennis is that he's a cranky and exacting old pig! He resented Anne's leaving hiet her back again Anne ought to be firhed Mary, as I knew, had always been ”firirlish days; had, in fact, ruled him with a rod of iron--cased in velvet, indeed, but inflexible, nevertheless!

I started onday and night of travel rade

Cassavetti, theevents of the last few days, receded to my mental horizon--vanished beyond it--as boat and train bore land, towards Anne Pendennis

Berlin at last I drove from the Potsdam station to the nearest barber's,--I needed a shave badly, though I had made myself otherwise fairly spick and span in the toilet car,--and thence to the hotel Anne hadme, for I had despatched the promised hen I started

”Send my card up to Fraulein Pendennis at once,” I said to the waiter who came forward to receive me

He looked at me--at the card--but did not take it

”Fraulein Pendennis is not here,” he asserted ”Herr Pendennis has already departed, and the Fraulein has not been here at all!”

CHAPTER X

DISQUIETING NEWS

I stared at the man incredulously

”Herr Pendennis has departed, and the Fraulein has not been here at all!” I repeated ”You must be mistaken, man! The Fraulein was to arrive here on Monday, at about this time”

He protested that he had spoken the truth, and suer, who confirmed the information

Yes, Herr Pendennis had been unfortunately indisposed, but the sickness had not been so severe as to necessitate that the so charram received,--doubtless from the Fraulein herself,--and thereupon with much haste departed He drove to the Friedrichstrasse station, but that was all that was known of his movements Two letters had arrived for Miss Pendennis, which her father had taken, and there was also a telegrahter, it seemed, ell known at the hotel, where they always stayed during their frequent visits to the German capital