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Morriston, of setting a party of my men to search the grounds for the rope; they will begin by dragging the little lake." "By all means," Morriston assented. "Detective Sprules," the chief proceeded, "would like to make another examination of the ironwork of the window. May he go up now?" "Certainly," Morriston answered, and the detective left the room. Gifford spoke.
We sent him off only about a quarter of an hour ago." "Alfred met Major Freeman and Mr. Henshaw with the detective just beyond the lodge gates, sir." "Then they were coming up here independently of my message?" "Yes, sir. Alfred gave Major Freeman the message and came back." Morriston moved towards the door. "I will see these gentlemen at once," he said. "In the library, sir."
"No, I cannot understand it," Morriston replied, as he turned and began to ascend the winding stairway. On the threshold of the topmost floor he paused. "This is the door we found locked on the inside," he observed quietly. Henshaw gave a keen look round, and nodded. Morriston pushed open the door and they entered.
"This is strange," Morriston said. "Hi! Is any one in there?" he shouted; but no response came. "Are you sure the key is in the door on the inside?" he asked. "Certain, sir. Will you look for yourself, sir?" the man replied, striking another match and holding it so that his master could convince himself. "No doubt about that," Morriston declared, as he rose from his scrutiny.
"Only let me know what you wish and you may command the very utmost I can do. And please don't think of me as a stranger." Edith Morriston smiled, and to Gifford it was the most fascinating smile he had ever seen. "Only let me know how I can serve you," he said, his pulses tingling.
But her lip trembled and her voice was scarcely steady. "It is something to me," he replied insistently, "because it means a great deal to you. This man is persecuting you. He is " "Mr. Gifford!" she exclaimed. "You take " He held up his hand. "Please let me finish, Miss Morriston. I can convince you that I am not taking too much upon myself. I am no fool and am not interfering without warrant.
But I am prepared to risk that consequence." "In court," Henshaw observed, with a malicious smile, "handled by a counsel who knew his business, your statement could be given a very ugly turn indeed." "As I have just told you," Gifford returned quietly, "I would take that risk rather than allow Miss Morriston to remain longer under suspicion.
"Is there any theory to account for his disappearance?" "No," Kelson answered, "unless a discreditable one. Gone off at a tangent." "And still in his evening things?" Painswick said with a laugh. "Rather uncomfortable this weather." "That reminds me," Morriston said with sudden animation, "one of the footmen brought me a fur coat and a soft hat this morning and asked me if they were mine.
"Let me give you another cup of tea, Muriel." "The old house looks most picturesque by moon-light," observed Lord Painswick. "I was quite fascinated by it the other night." "There is a full moon now," Gifford said. "We will stroll round and admire when we leave." "Don't stroll over the edge of the haha as I very nearly did one night," Morriston said laughingly.
It had, in view of Gifford's commission from Miss Morriston, been arranged that he should share Kelson's rooms at the Golden Lion, no longer as a guest, so that both men were now independent of each other. The date of Kelson's wedding seemed now likely to be put off for some months, as his friend had suggested.
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