Vera could see it all more clearly now. She recollected the disturbance in the conservatory on the night of Sir James Seton’s visit to Park Lane. She recollected with even more significant force the cries and the shattering of glass in the conservatory the previous evening. And why, for the first time in his life, had Lord Ravenspur caused the bloodhounds to be brought up from Hampshire? All these questions Vera asked herself, but she could think of no reply. In some vague way her woman’s instinct told her that she was mixed up in the business. If so, it would never do for her to desert Lord Ravenspur at this critical moment. She would have to stay by him until the danger was past.
She sat there replying to the chattering remarks of her companion at random, until even he saw how preoccupied she was.
“I am afraid you are not quite yourself tonight,” he said.
“I am sure I beg your pardon,” Vera murmured. “I am not quite myself. I wish you would do me a favour, Sir James. Would you mind finding Walter and sending him to me?”
Sir James trotted off obediently enough, and presently Walter came along. He looked somewhat warm and heated.
“I am sorry I couldn’t find you before,” he said. “We have been having a bit of fun in the drawing-room. It was rather a nuisance, too. What do you think happened? But you will never guess. One of the dogs got away and actually followed us here. I found three or four ladies held up by one of the brutes in a drawing-room. They were frightened to death, not knowing what a peaceful creature poor Bruno is in the ordinary way. I had to lead him away and tie him up to one of the trees in the shrubbery.”
Vera smiled as she thought of the terror which the great hound would naturally inspire. No doubt he had managed to get away from Park Lane and had tracked them to Lady Ringmar’s house.
“He will be quite quiet where he is,” she said, “and we can take him with us when we go. I shall be glad to get away. I am longing to leave London behind me now.”
Walter looked anxiously at his companion. He saw how pale and disturbed she was, how distressed her features were.
“What is the matter?” he asked tenderly.
“I was going to tell you,” Vera replied. “I have had a considerable shock tonight. I have learnt something which you tried to conceal from me. Oh, I am not blaming you, because I am sure you only acted for the best, but I have just been having a conversation with Sir James Seton, and he was telling me all about the attack that was made on him the other night when he came to dine with us. I was dreadfully grieved to hear what he had to say.”
“But, my dear girl,” Walter protested, “really—”
“Oh, yes, I know. You are thinking about me now,” Vera said. “But it is rather too late. That murderous attack was made upon Sir James Seton because the miscreant mistook him for Lord Ravenspur. There can be no doubt about it, because Sir James told me so. And when I heard that, other strange circumstances flashed into my mind. For instance, those two mysterious occurrences in the studio. Now, tell me honestly, Walter, is the danger really great?”
Walter hesitated a moment before he replied.
“I am very much afraid it is,” he said presently. “It is all a question of time. And you must not regard Lord Ravenspur as a coward, because he is nothing of the kind. I am certain that he is acting in your very best interests—”
“Ah, I thought I was at the bottom of it somewhere,” Vera cried, as Walter bit his lip. “I was absolutely convinced of it. Oh, I know I couldn’t tell you why, except that my instinct warns me. But am I not to know, Walter? Am I to go on being treated as a child? You have both been very good to me, and the mere suggestion that I am a danger and a burden to you fills me with pain. Won’t you take me into your confidence? I am no longer a child.”
XXIX
The Message
“If the secret were only my own I would not hesitate a moment,” Walter said. “Be patient a little longer, my dearest girl. I am quite sure that Ravenspur will tell you when the proper time comes. Once we are on board the yacht there will be no occasion for further secrecy. Another hour, and we shall be on our way. I am not a nervous man, but this thing is beginning to worry me.”
Vera persisted no further. The band had just ceased playing, and there was a sudden rush of guests into the garden, so that there was no opportunity for further privacy. A somewhat imperious dowager pounced down upon Walter, with a request that he would find her daughter, and there was nothing for it but to obey. Just for a moment Vera stood in the midst of a laughing, chattering group of friends, then she managed to slip away unseen. She wanted to be alone and think this matter out.
She was just a little hurt that the others had not taken her into their confidence. Still, perhaps Lord Ravenspur had acted in this way to save her pain and annoyance. He had always been kind and considerate to her. She owed him a deep debt of gratitude. And yet, up to a few moments ago, she had been prepared to turn her back upon her best friends and face the world alone. But she could not do that now. She would have to abandon her plans for
