The Slave of Silence

were quick and alert now in the face of this unknown danger, and the girl did not fail to note the pale face and agitated features of the man who had so grievously harmed her. Evidently Ri

d down the corridor, Beatr

case of diamonds on the dressing-table had not been touched. If anything like a robbery had been contemplated she was in time to prevent it. Just for the moment it occurred to Beatrice to demand coldly the reason for the intr

ious character," she said. "I shall begin to believe

at under her rouge. But she recovered herself with marvellou

plead guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the court. You s

rice. But she had made up her mind that no suspicion of the truth should come out. Quite carelessly she opened the

een her teeth, her hands were clenched. And Beatrice knew that but for the intervention of that stranger in the drawing-room and the sudden flight of the General, she would never have

not feeling very well, so I sent my maid to ask you to come to my room. She sa

will you take this case down to the office and ask the manager to place it wi

rust her voice for a moment. She knew now that unless she had taken this course, the diamonds would not have been hers much longer. A woman who could look like that was capable of anything. Some cunning plan, perhaps some plan that took violence within

said, "I had forgotten to g

far as she knew to the contrary a confederate might be lingering about waiting for a signal. Surely enough, General Gastang was loitering in the hall smoking a cigarette. But he

been thinking over the very kind offer you made to me a little time ago. You can ha

the gratitude. They were slim hands with many ri

nd something was hanging that lo

ached to one of your rings. Let me remove it for yo

was a startling discovery. At first she had imagined that the long silken fluff was attached to one of the rings, bu

mpressions of locks and keys and the like. But surely there could be nothing worth all that trouble in this room, she thought. Nor would anything of that kind have been necessary to get possession of the jewels. Besides, if any waxen impression of anything had been taken

of the day, it was not likely that she would sleep at all. And yet she felt very dull and heavy; she could think of

, for which I should be ashamed of myself. Goo

s of her jewelled fingers. Beatrice drew a long

n threads hanging on the lock of the door leading to the room where Sir Charles lay. On the official seal placed there by the police officers was a tiny thread of silk. It was not attached to the seal in any way. It came away in Beatrice's hands

he dead man lay? The more Beatrice asked herself this question the more puzzled did she become. She thought it over till her head ached and her eyes grew heavy. So engrossed was s

t was she to do? Her maid had been taken ill and she had been commanded to bed by a doctor. The Countess was very sorry for Marie, but she ha

id. "It is awkward being withou

room as if unable to keep still. She held in her hand a smelling bottle with a powerful perfume that Beatrice had never smelt bef

uire," Beatrice said. "What

s supposed to be the most marvellous thing for headaches in the wide w

f mine," Beatrice confessed. "It i

ed the glass stopp

said. "Only you must not ta

nscious of only one thing, and that was the desire to lie down and sleep. In a dreamy way she watched the Countess depart and close

aylight, and Adeline was leaning over her. Th

uldn't believe the trouble I have had to arouse you, and

't feel well, Adeline. Your face is so curiously white and your lips tremble. What is it? Has something happened? But

n and off, I have been trying to wake you since eight o'clock. And there is a gentl

rong and steady to-day. It seemed impossible that fate could have anything worse in store than had already befallen her. With a firm step she went into the sitt

rse? Will you have to call me? I am afraid I can give you no information-my father nev

ely; he seemed unable t

should say Mrs. Richford, a terrible thing has happened, a strange, weird thing. As you know, th

mplain of me on that sco

tered Sir Charles's room last night and carried him away.