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Lonsdale being an old friend of the dead man; about her having been good enough to volunteer to shed whatever light she might have upon the case, and of their meeting being the "most fortunate coincidence." Mr. Ford signified that he, too, looked upon it in that way. They would go on to Homebury together, he said, when the storm had cleared.
Until that instant Bessie Lonsdale had no plan. She had only known that she could not go with them to Homebury St. Mary, there to be recognized. But something in the suggestion of Mr. Ford in the tone, perhaps, more than the words caused her to say, looking from one to the other of these two men so lately strangers to her: "I wonder I wonder if I could make you understand!"
She seemed divided into two separate selves, neither of them complete one, the intenser of the two, was at Homebury St. Mary, looking down upon Ayling's still, dead face; and that self was filled with pity, with remorse, with a tenderness that hurt.
It occurred to Ayling that, standing there before him with Lady McCrae's letter, which she had been showing him, in her hand, she was exactly like a little girl who was going to be left all alone. The idea came to him suddenly. "Look here, Bessie; come down to Homebury St. Mary with me! It would do you no end of good."
I think together we may be able to obviate the necessity of a too public investigation at any rate, we shall see. It must be done, of course, before the official investigation begins. Therefore, if you will come down with me this afternoon, in my car " "Come with you? Where?" "To the inn, at Homebury," he said.
Her room opened directly into the garden, and she put on stout boots and a walking-suit and a soft little hat of green felt, and went out. Ayling, who had evidently risen early, was coming toward her, swinging a great, freshly whittled staff cut from the woods beyond the inn. He called to her: "You see! The sun does shine at Homebury St. Mary!"
It would give her time to think; for it seemed, dimly, that respite had been offered her. Into her thoughts broke the voice of Mr. Burke addressing her: "How very singular, Mrs. Lonsdale! This gentleman is Mr Ford, the coroner, also on his way to Homebury!" The stranger was on his feet, bowing and acknowledging the introduction of Mr. Burke.
Lonsdale, because of a very may I say a very unfortunate element in connection with the case. It appears that there was a woman with Mr. Ayling at the Homebury St. Mary inn." Bessie Lonsdale waited, she did not know for what. Whole minutes seemed to go by with the elderly Mr. Burke sitting there in his attitude of formal sympathy before his voice began again.
Lonsdale, but I must tell you that we have received a telephone message here at the club that I hope it will not shock you too much that Mr. Ayling died sometime to-day, at an inn where he was staying, at Homebury St. Mary, I believe." His voice was very gentle and concerned. She hesitated perceptibly, and his voice came over the wire, "I'm sorry very sorry, to tell you in this way "
I have been in communication with the coroner's office by telephone, and I have promised to drive down to Homebury St. Mary myself this afternoon. He was away on another case, and will not reach there himself until six. Meantime we must do what we can. They will necessarily make an effort to discover the woman."
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