Part 8 (2/2)

”Ah--in that case--but still--will you meet me? Say here--this evening?”

”I will see if I can”.

”At seven?”

”I will see”.

So they parted, she to tread that intricacy of streets round the Market, with stoppages for enquiries, till she found the office, where she presently sat in an inner room, veil at nose-tip, and before her at a grate stood Hogarth's solicitor.

What, till now, for shame, she had concealed, she revealed: showing how Richard could not possibly have taken the revolver with him to the elm, since she, two days previously, had secretly given it to--someone.

Mr. Carr, the solicitor, frowned, elaborating his nails.

”This is very extraordinary”, he said. ”Whyever did you keep us in the dark as to all this before? And to whom was it that you gave the revolver? and why?”

”Am I bound to tell that?”

”No, but you may be sure that the truth will be got from you. Stay--I must ask you to excuse me now. But tomorrow morning at this hour--will you? As for your brother, have no fears at all: he is now absolutely safe”.

Margaret went rapidly away, not knowing whither, only returning toward late afternoon to her inn. As she entered, a letter was handed her from Frankl.

”Dear Miss Hogarth:

”It is only due to you that I should see you at once to explain the mystery of this affair, so as to clear your brother, and as it would not do for me to call upon you for obvious reasons, the only thing for us to do is to meet to-night on Mousehold Heath at 7 P.M. without fail...”

What now was she to do? At ”7 P.M.” she had half promised Loveday to meet him.

And what had her meetings with Baruch Frankl, innocent as they were, brought upon her and hers!

Yet Frankl _must_ be kindly intentioned, she reasoned--since he had sent them the 50; and she thought of that agony of humiliation when she had asked Loveday for 2, and he had refused.

And he had given evidence against Richard with his down-turned smile.

But he had said a word at her ear--and her crushed heart had leapt. She did not know what to do, fell by her bedside and prayed to be taught which of the two was Richard's best friend.

As she pa.s.sed over the inn-threshold, she decided in favour of Frankl: and a few minutes past seven was on Mousehold Heath.

Frankl hurried to meet her, and the hand which he held out was rather cold; but she did not take it.

”No, Mr. Frankl”, said she, ”before I give my hand, it is only what is due to me to hear how Richard's pistol, which I trusted to you, was found where it was--”

”Well, that is only fair”, answered Frankl; ”that is only fair. But I have a carriage there, let us get into it, and sit as we talk”.

She could see no carriage in that dark, yet it stood only some yards away--Frankl's own.

”I think I prefer to stand...” said she.

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