United States or Canada ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Venner's eyes glittered at the prospect; but he could not see the faces of his friends; he could only hear Pearse's low tones beside him, and the mumbled words indicated no great agreement in the scheme.
The speaker broke off suddenly, as someone in the corridor called her name. She slipped away from Venner's side, and, looking through the palms and flowers, he could see that she was talking eagerly to a woman who had the appearance of a lady's maid. Venner could not fail to note the calm strength of the woman's face. It was only for a moment; then Vera came back with a telegram in her hand.
He appeared to be heavy with sleep his melancholy eyes opened slowly as he turned to the newcomers. "You have been thinking about me," he said "you have been wondering what had become of me. We are strangers, and yet we are not strangers. Mr. Venner is known to me, and Mr. Venner's wife also. I was aware that my dear young mistress was his wife when it was still a secret to everybody else.
"Naturally not," smiled Nick. "Now, then, for what special purpose did you want those particular diamonds? I think you referred to one." A slight tinge of red appeared in Venner's cheeks when he replied, a change which by no means escaped Nick's observation.
He pitched forward upon the dead girl, and the great rock crashed down, building them a tomb grand as the eternal hills. Venner's order to heave the treasure-chests overboard was not given without a pang of regret. It was scarcely obeyed without threats; for the sailing master had been bitten by the treasure fever before his owner and guest came on board.
And Nick began to drive it from cover that very night. Shortly before nine o'clock, and just as the two detectives were parting from the Hindoo snake charmer, Mr. Rufus Venner rang the bell at the door of Cervera's uptown residence. It was answered by Cervera herself, much to Venner's surprise. "Where's the butler to-night?" he abruptly demanded, as he entered and closed the door.
The recollection of a deep and true affection is rather a divine nourishment for a life to grow strong upon than a poison to destroy it. Dudley Venner's habitual sadness could not be laid wholly to his early bereavement.
Garside quickly informed him of the several incidents of the past half hour, when, to his consternation and dismay a look of sudden apprehension swept over Venner's face. "Raymond the name of Hafferman's cashier!" he cried. "Nothing of the sort, Philip. Their cashier is named Briggs. I know him well." "Briggs! Briggs!" "Briggs yes, Briggs!" reiterated Mr. Venner, excitedly.
She says very little to anybody, and studies, or makes believe study, almost what she likes. Oh, Mr. Langdon, I am weak and nervous, and no doubt foolish, but if there were women now, as in the days of our Saviour, possessed of devils, I should think there was something not human looking out of Elsie Venner's eyes!"
We will talk mundane matters presently." Vera yielded to the ecstasy of the moment. Everything was so dark and melancholy that it seemed a sin to lose a gleam of sunshine like this. But the time crept on and the November sun was sinking, and it was borne in upon Vera that she must get back to the house again. Very gently, she disengaged herself from Venner's embrace.
Word Of The Day