A Mysterious Disappearance

frown as she drew aside the window-curtains of her boudoir and trie

flected from gleaming brass, the luxury of carpets and upholstery, formed an allu

. She held back the curtains with her left hand, buttoning a glove at the wrist with the other. Fog or no fog,

mosphere; the past was dramatically typified by the pleasant surroundings on which she resolutely turned her back. Lady Dyke was quite dete

ritten letter. Its details were familiar to her, but her face hardene

an address. Then she replaced the document, stood

o the answering foot

, mi

les is no

mil

I shall probably not return in time for di

the carriage fo

o me and remember

, mi

sed into Portman Square, and then confidentially informed But

n' throat when I asked her if she

e fixed tenure of Wensley House, Portman Square, into the c

le bumped against each other without apology, 'buses crunched through the traffic with

od slight things annoyed her. Usually, the London cab-horse is a thoughtful animal; he refuses to hurry; when he falls he lies contented, secure in the knowledge that for fi

ner, and grated the off-wheel of the hansom against

obey the directions contained in the volu

n from her purse, a tall, ulster-wrapped gentleman, walking rapidly into

y his ha

pleasure, Lady Dyke. Ca

but the law of Society forced h

ter at Richmond. Isn't the weather horrid? I shall

she would have been much better pleased had he passed without greeting. Like the footman, he wondered why she did not drive in her carriage

in dressing for a distant dinner-that good manne

. Have you

g for a chat, and s

descended to the barrier, found that the next train for Richmond passed through in ten minutes, fumed inward

he last play, and the latest bo

eat Society Scandal" was on the tapis. "The Duke in the Box" formed a

n of the world, and an experie

to her confidence, and I am too busy to b

h occupied at the Cour

ny people seek my advice about matters of little interest, never thinking that

er troubles, whatever they were, locked in the secrecy of her own heart, and when she

ted it af

now, a few seconds too late, he was sorry. He strove to bring her back to the verge of explanations, but

" staring at them from the s

bye!"

od-

see you a

that I shall leave for the S

ran to his Victoria Street chambers. It was six o'clock. He had

Charles. He was rich-a Guardsman until the baronetcy devolved upon him, a popular figure in Society, estee

ere not well-matc

ossible to realize that the depths of passion are frequently coated over with ice. Their union was irreproachable, like the

d were thus deprived of the one great

. His boots were muddy and his clothes s

footman who took his hat and overcoat. "But I shall

ot at home,

at

going to Richmond to see Lady Edith Talbot, and that y

sed. He looked steadil

sure of her lad

ure, Sir

she d

uld not order the carria

nt. Then he appeared to dismiss the matter as har

ost immedia

e butler's judgment. Finding his own company distasteful, he discussed the

"Murder in the West End." He read the paragraph, the

ly crimes have occurr

e's bin three since the

hear that her ladyship

Sir Ch

now how s

ir Cha

ougham in ten minutes. I am going to the Travellers' Club. I s

his own coachman, but on returning to Wensley

gram or

ir Cha

in the morning to say so. Just like a woman. Now if I did that, James, there

rles Dyke left the li

rapidly scanned the letters near his plate for t

g. He sent her to

Don't you think I had better wire? It's curious, to say the leas

the letters an hour earlier. But he

be home to lunch? Want to see you about some hunters";

e off to Leicestershire next week, Thompson. By the way, I am going to a sale

he sale yard when a serva

ick this morning," he said, smilin

ee you at

the message that he read the words aloud mechani

the man, "and tell Thompson to

e time, and the baronet was checking the animals' descr

preparing for

baronet shook hand

nice-mannered ones for my wife. I have six ea

ll Lady Dyke hunt th

kes to dodge about the lanes w

me last night that she would proba

France!" Sir Charles Dyke posi

ria. She was going to Richmon

ly glad t

d! W

mysteriously, late in the afternoon, leaving a message with the servants.

riage myself. Have yo

at any moment. But what is this about the Sout

e upset about something. She only mentioned her intenti

issed the matter by the remark that the expected message from his wife would soon

trotting up and down the straw-covered track, and Sir Charles had purchased

another telegram, and Thompson told

ble character was even then under the hammer-but he tore open the

e, what is it? No

ong effort, regaine

ne somewhere else. See. This is from her sister, Mrs. Talbot. S

ce

e not seen her for over a week. What do you m

oice betrayed the significance of the

u make of i

though the explanation may be trifling. Come, I will help you.

They did not say much. Each man felt that the affair m