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Updated: June 29, 2025
"I am sorry to disappoint you," said I. "But I am afraid you won't see any more of Bob Evers to-night." "What do you mean?" asked Mrs. Lascelles, suspiciously. "I wonder he didn't tell you," I replied, to gain time in which to decide how to make the best use of such an unforeseen opportunity. "Well, he didn't; so please will you, Captain Clephane?"
Clephane had lured him into the trap, and had herself written the decoy note; but he did not believe her guilty. Even though Crenshaw had adroitly implicated her, he was not influenced. Indeed, he was convinced of just the reverse: that she was honest and sincere and inexperienced, and that she had told him the true story of the letter and its loss.
Spencer, that time, had put one over him; two, maybe, for he was concerned about Mrs. Clephane. Spencer had gone without her shadow, been free to transact her business, and returned and all the time she knew of passing him and his pursuit of her, and was enjoying his discomfiture. To add a trifle more uneasiness, she had thrown in the matter of Mrs. Clephane.
"H-u-m," reflected Harleston; and his glance sought Mrs. Spencer's and held it. "Where is Mrs. Clephane now?" he demanded. For just an instant her eyes narrowed and grew very dark. Then suddenly she laughed lightly, with just a suggestion of mockery in the tones. "Mrs. Clephane is yonder!" said she. Harleston turned quickly. Mrs. Clephane was coming down the corridor.
"Granted; yet where is she? moreover, she promised me to do nothing unusual and to beware of traps." "She has the feminine right to reconsider," Ranleigh reminded him. "However, I'll instruct the bureau to get busy and " "Wait until morning," Harleston interjected. "If Mrs. Clephane hasn't appeared by nine o'clock, I'll telephone you." Harleston leaned back in his chair frowning.
It was all in the game, and he was obligated to be truthful only to Mrs. Clephane. She looked at him contemplatively, trying to read behind his words. "What is it, Madeline?" he asked. "I wonder!" she said speculatively. "Can't I answer?" "Yes, you can answer " "Then ask me," he invited, seeking to get something that would afford him an inkling of her aim. Assuredly she had him guessing.
Buissard, beyond expressing hope that I had experienced no ill effect from the occurrence of the other night, wasted no time in coming to business." "'Mrs. Clephane, she said, sitting on the corner of the table just where you are sitting now, 'I have a proposition to make to you may I make it? "I could see no reason to forbid, so I acquiesced.
Evers doesn't say that he is a climber himself, Captain Clephane; but he is a very keen one, and so am I. We are both beginners, so we have begun together. It's such fun. We do some little thing every day; to-day we did the Schwarzee. You won't be any wiser, and the real climbers wouldn't call it climbing, but it means three thousand feet first and last.
Spencer, Harleston gave a quiet laugh of satisfaction. "Now shall we go in to dinner?" he asked. Mrs. Clephane nodded. "The table in the corner yonder, Philippe," Harleston said. "Who is Mrs. Spencer?" she inquired, as soon as they were seated. "You've never heard of her?" "No nor seen her before tonight. One is not likely to forget her; she's as lovely as " "Original sin?" Harleston supplied.
Such ignorance is a large asset for those of us who know. I had thought of impersonating her and amusing myself with d'Hausonville, but I concluded it wasn't worth while. It riles me, however, that the affair was so atrociously bungled by Crenshaw and the others. What possessed them to release Mrs. Clephane once they had her? and what in Heaven's name made them overlook the letter in the cab?"
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