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Updated: June 12, 2025
"Why, sir," said Ashmead, "he is on his good behavior to get back; has been for months begging and praying just to be let live under the same roof. She has always refused. But some fellows have such luck. I don't say he fell down a trap on purpose; but he has done it, and no broken bones, but plenty of blood. That is the very thing to overcome a woman's feelings; and she is not proof against pity.
"You are not very sharp, then, for a detective," said Ashmead. "Well, shut your mouth and open your eyes. Your Mr. Severne was the lady's lover, and preyed upon her. He left her; she was fool enough to love him still, and pined for him.
He ran to the theater, in great alarm, and told the manager she had been taken very ill. He must change the bill. "Impossible!" was the reply. "If she can't sing, I close." Ashmead went back to "The Star." Ina was in her bedroom. He sent in a line, "Can you sing tonight? If not he says he must close." The reply came back in rather a trembling hand.
"What is the game now?" thought Ashmead. But what he said was, "Why, I know that face. I declare, it is the gent that treated me at Homburg. Bring in the hamper, Dick." Then to Poikilus, "Have ye dined yet?" "No. Going to dine in half an hour. Roast gosling. Just enough for two." "We'll divide it, if you like, and I'll stand a bottle of old Madeira.
"Ah!" said she, and rose; but the points of her fingers still rested on the book. "It is!" cried Ashmead. "It is!" "Yes, Mr. Ashmead," said the lady, coloring a little, but in pure English, and with a composure not easily disturbed; "it is Ina Klosking." "What a pleasure," cried Ashmead; and what a surprise! Ah, madam, I never hoped to see you again.
Severne received it at breakfast, and laid it before Zoe, which had a favorable effect on her mind to begin. Poikilus reported that the money was in good hands. He had seen the lady. She made no secret of the thing the sum was 4,900 pounds, and she said half belonged to her and half to a gentleman. She did not know him, but her agent, Ashmead, did.
Ina, who, in truth, was just then most unfit for any more trials, feebly consented, but not until she had given Ashmead some important instructions respecting her malefactor, and supplied him with funds. Miss Gale also instructed Ashmead how to proceed in case of a relapse, and provided him with materials.
Ashmead had a hard time of it with Severne. He managed pretty well with him at first, because he stupefied him with brandy before he had come to his senses, and in that state got him into the next train. But as the fumes wore off, and Severne realized his villainy, his defeat, and his abject condition between the two women he had wronged, he suddenly uttered a yell and made a spring at the window.
He violated this order, for in five minutes he ran back to tell her, in an agitated whisper, that Smith was, at that moment, writing a letter in the salle 'a manger. "Oh, pray don't come here!" cried Ina, in despair. "Do not lose sight of him for a moment." "Give me that letter to post, then," said Ashmead, and snatched one up Ina had directed overnight.
But next day her heart entered on sharper suffering. She was irritated, exasperated; chained to the theater, to Homburg, yet wild to follow Severne to England without delay. She told Ashmead she must and would go. He opposed it stoutly, and gave good reasons. She could not break faith with the management. England was a large place. They had, as yet, no clew but a name.
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