I sat erect in my chair, open-mouthed, unable to move. My eyes were
riveted upon the slim graceful form before me. I held my breath in
wonder. She wore a smart tailor-made gown of pale fawn, with a large
black hat which suited her admirably, while across the face--every
feature of which had been so indelibly photographed upon my memory--was
a thin gauzy veil which only served to heighten, rather than to conceal,
her striking beauty.
"I'm so sorry to have disturbed you," she exclaimed, turning to her
ladyship. "But I hadn't any idea that you had a visitor."
"Oh," laughed the other, "our conversation is not at all of a private
character. Let me introduce you." Then, turning to me, she said--
"This is my cousin, Feo Ashwicke--Doctor Colkirk."
My wife turned to me and bowed, a sweet smile upon her lips.
"I hope, Doctor, you will forgive me for bounding into the room like
this," she said.
"Certainly," I answered, still gazing at her like a man in a dream.
She had been introduced to me as Feo Ashwicke, the cousin of this rather
curious woman, Lady Pierrepoint-Lane. Yet there could be no doubt that
she was actually Beryl Wynd, the sweet-faced girl whom I had seen lying
dead in that house of mystery eight days before.
Neither our introduction nor the mention of my name had in the least
disconcerted her. She remained perfectly frank and natural, betraying
not the slightest surprise. Could it be possible that she was not aware
of her marriage with me?
I looked straight into her clear blue eyes. Neither appeared affected.
Nevertheless, had I not, on that fatal night, seen the strange
contraction of the pupil, which had rendered one--the left eye--
sightless and so strange-looking?
She was talking to her cousin, and thus I had opportunity of regarding
her critically. Her hands were gloved, therefore I could not see
whether she still wore the ring I had placed upon her finger. Still, if
she were really Feo Ashwicke, what motive had she in masquerading as the
daughter of that crafty scoundrel Wyndham Wynd?
I longed to speak plainly to her and seek some explanation, yet at that
moment it was impossible. Her frank and open manner rendered it quite
evident that to her I was an utter stranger.
It was this failure on her part to recognise my name that aroused within
my mind a doubt whether, after all, her personal appearance only bore a
very striking resemblance to that of my mysterious wife.
"Nora always forgets her engagements," she laughed, turning to me.
"This morning we've got quite a host of places to go to and things to
buy, for we leave town again to-night. After breakfast we arranged to
go out together at eleven, and she's actually forgotten all about it!"
"Short memories are sometimes useful," I remarked with a smile.
"I hope that is not meant for sarcasm, Doctor," protested the baronet's
wife.
"I am never sarcastic at the expense of my patients," I responded.
"But I presume I am a friend. Do your friends fare any better?"
"With my friends it is quite different. I myself am generally the
object of their sarcasm."
They both laughed.
"How hot it is this morning," observed the mysterious Feo. "I've only
been in town three days, and shall be very glad to get back again into
the country."
"To what part are you going?" I inquired.
"Only to Whitton, near Hounslow, to visit the Chetwodes. Do you know
them?"
"No," I replied. "Are you staying there long?"
"Oh, a fortnight or so," she replied. "The Chetwode girls were at
school with me near Paris, and we are very good friends. They always
have a big house-party at this time of the year, and there is usually
lots of fun."
"You're quite right, dear," exclaimed her cousin, rising. "We must
really make haste if we are to do all our shopping and catch the five
o'clock from Waterloo. In Maud's letter, this morning, she says she
will send the carriage to meet that train."
I rose also. I was loth to leave the presence of this charming girl,
who was undoubtedly my bride, but who, it appeared, was entirely
unconscious of the fact. Yet the woman who had called me in for
consultation, and had acted so strangely that it almost seemed as though
she had fallen in love with me, had pointedly dismissed me; therefore I
was compelled to take my leave.
"I hope, Doctor, that we shall see something more of you on our return
to town," her ladyship said, as we shook hands. "Recollect our
conversation of this morning," she added meaningly.
"Of course I shall be most delighted to call and see how you have
progressed," I responded. "You have the prescription, and I hope you
will persevere with it."
"If I feel worse." She laughed, and I knew that she did not mean to
have the mixture made up. She had shammed illness very cleverly. I was
amused and annoyed at the same moment.
"I hope Doctor Colkirk will dine with us here one evening," said the
woman who was my bride. "I'm sure Sir Henry would be charmed to meet
him."
"Yes," answered her cousin; "only he must not know that I have consulted
him professionally. That must be kept a secret."
"All women love secrets," I remarked.
"And men also," responded Feo. "Some appear to think that a little
mystery adds an additional zest to life."
Her words were strange ones, and seemed to have been uttered with some
abstruse meaning.
"Do you yourself think so?" I inquired, looking earnestly into those
bright eyes of clear, childlike blue, that were so plainly indicative of
a purity of soul.
"Well, I scarcely know," she responded, returning my glance
unflinchingly. "We all of us have some little mystery or other in our
lives, I suppose."