In the meantime Ross Powell with his mind full of his rencounter with
Laurel, and his passions all aflame with love and hate commingled,
wended his way to the stately home of the Le Roys.
It was true as Laurel had conjectured that he had come on business with
Beatrix Gordon, but the sudden, exciting meeting with the dead author's
daughter had almost driven his employer's business out of his mind. He
determined to get through this interview with Miss Gordon as soon as
possible, that he might gain time to trace the scornful Laurel to her
home.
His disappointment was accordingly great when he was informed that Miss
Gordon had gone for a walk. On his polite intimation that he had but an
hour to remain Clarice was sent out to bring her mistress in.
Pretty, clever Clarice, having informed herself as to the identity of
the visitor, departed on her errand, her quick brain teeming with plans
to avoid the threatened exposure.
And Ross Powell waited his little hour, and saw the sunset gleams
kindling the waves of the Hudson with gold, and still she came not.
Impatience burned to fever-heat in his breast, though he was outwardly
calm and deferentially polite to Mrs. Le Roy and her stately son.
The master of Eden inspired him with some little awe. He shrunk from
the keen, clear glances of the cynical dark eyes. They seemed to pierce
through him and read his shallow, selfish nature to the core. He felt
his own littleness by contrast with the calm, proud bearing of St. Leon
Le Roy, and resented it with carefully concealed anger.
While he waited for Miss Gordon's coming, he ventured nonchalantly on
one leading question.
Could they tell him if there was a young lady staying in the
neighborhood named Laurel Vane?
"Laurel Vane--what a sweet, pretty name," said Mrs. Le Roy. "No, I do
not believe there is. I have never heard the name before."
"It is possible that she may be occupying some subordinate position--a
governess, perhaps," suggested Mr. Powell.
"I do not know, I have never heard of her," said the hostess,
carelessly; then, appealing to her son, "Have you, St. Leon?"
And he, in his blindness, answered:
"No."
Ross Powell did not know how to believe them. Had he not met her coming
out of their grounds, loaded with their rare flowers? He asked himself
what interest these rich people had in deceiving him about Laurel Vane.
While he puzzled over the question a sudden solution presented itself
to his mind. She must be figuring under an assumed name. These rich Le
Roys could have had no interest in deceiving him about humble little
Laurel Vane.
He did not know how nearly his chance conjecture had hit the mark.
But his suspicions made him all the more eager to get away and seek
for her. If she had really been clever enough to hide herself under a
fictitious name, she would be all the harder to find. The difficulty
only made him more zealous in pursuit.
He assumed an air of polite regret, and began to pave his way to
departure.
"I am afraid I cannot await Miss Gordon's return any longer this
evening, as I have a friend waiting for me at the hotel," he said. "But
indeed there is no real necessity that I should see her at all beyond
the pleasure her father would experience in hearing that I had done so.
I will call again in the morning, and perhaps find her at home. In the
meantime," he drew two letters and a small package from his breast, "I
am the bearer of a letter to you, Mrs. Le Roy, and one for Miss Gordon,
with this packet and her father's love. I shall be pleased to receive
your answer in the morning before I return to New York."
He presented them and bowed himself out, so eager to find Laurel Vane
that he gave scarcely a thought to Miss Gordon's defection.
The deepening twilight fell, and still neither Clarice nor her mistress
returned.
Mrs. Le Roy began to feel some little anxiety.
"She never stayed out like this before," she said to St. Leon. "Can she
have eluded us, and eloped with her lover? I am afraid I have allowed
her too much liberty. What do you think, St. Leon?"
There was a gloomy flash in his eyes, but before he could speak Clarice
came running in, breathless and eager, with genuine alarm on her face.
"Has he gone?" she gasped.
"An hour ago," said Mrs. Le Roy. "Where is Miss Gordon, Clarice?"
"Oh, Mrs. Le Roy, I cannot find her anywhere," gasped the girl, in a
frightened tone.