What was printed there was utterly bewildering. I held my breath.
Could it actually be true?
I cried aloud for joy, and pressing my love to my breast covered her
pale sweet face with passionate kisses.
"Is this a fact?" I cried. "Is it really true?"
"Yes," answered Lucie. "I have been to Half Moon Street myself and made
inquiries. Mr Gordon-Wright, it appears, returned home late last night
after supper at the Savoy. He must have met some friends afterwards,
for the hall-porter says he did not return till nearly two o'clock, and
then seemed dazed and incoherent in his speech. He frequently saw
gentlemen like that, and therefore pretended to take no notice. At
eight o'clock this morning, when his valet took him his early tea, he
found him half-dressed doubled up on the bed quite dead. Death from
poisoning, the doctor has declared. To us the truth is quite plain. He
is another victim of Himes' terrible revenge!"
"And you, my darling, are free--actually free!" I cried, again kissing
my dear heart's face and beside myself with an unexpected joy.
Himes was evidently keeping his vow to exterminate all Miller's
friends--for what reason, however, was still an enigma.
The situation now became utterly bewildering. In an instant I
recognised the exact position. My well-beloved was not so enthusiastic
as myself. She seemed terrified at the man's terribly sudden end, and
at the same time she held herself aloof from me. She held a secret, one
which, as she had frankly told me, she would never divulge--not even to
me. How could there be perfect love without perfect confidence? Again
another difficulty was presented.
"I saw the report upon the posters in the streets, bought a paper, and
learnt the truth," explained Lucie. "I then took a cab at once to
Porchester Terrace in search of Ella, and brought her straight here to
you."
"The fellow has got his deserts," I said, in triumph. "He richly
deserved such an ignominious end."
"He supped with my father and myself at the Savoy last night, and drove
home with us," Ella said. "He left us about one o'clock, and promised
to call and take me shopping in Bond Street at ten this morning, but
never came."
"And he will never trouble you more, darling," I exclaimed, amazed that
Himes should have acted with such daring so quickly after his terrible
revenge upon Miller. It showed how unscrupulous and determined he was
to carry out the threat that had escaped his lips. "You are mine at
last--mine! _mine_!" I cried, pressing her again to me and covering her
lips with kisses.
But she did not return my caresses. She only pushed me forcibly from
her, saying huskily:--
"It is true that man is dead, Godfrey--that I have no further fear of
him--that my secret is safe. But you must give me time to think,
Godfrey."
"Yes," urged her friend. "You must allow her time. The news of the
fellow's sudden end has upset her. The release has been so sudden that
she cannot yet realise it. Release has also come to me," she added.
"Ah! you do not know the truth, Mr Leaf--it is surely stranger than any
fiction ever written."
"And may I not know it?" I asked quickly. "Remember that you have
taken me into your confidence up to a certain point. Is Ella aware of
the truth?"
"I think not," she faltered, with a hard expression on her face. "It is
a disgraceful truth. Since my poor father's death I have made certain
startling discoveries that place matters in an entirely new light. I
have been examining his private papers, and they have revealed to me
facts which, so infamous, cause me to hide my face from you in shame.
I--I am not fit to be your associate or friend of Ella," she added, in a
hoarse painful whisper. "I confess to you both, because you have been
my friends. I confess everything, even the fact that I learnt only
three days ago."
"What's that?" I inquired.
"That I am, after all, what the world calls an adventuress--the daughter
of an international thief!" was her low answer, her chin sunk upon her
breast in an attitude of shame. "My poor father, whom I adored, was
only a thief!" and she burst into tears.
For some moments I was silent. The door opened behind us, and Sammy,
who had returned, stood upon the threshold, surprised that I had
visitors.