the worse of him because he was too preoccupied to return it. She was beginning to discern an undercurrent of serious import beneath the happenings of the past half-hour.
“What made you break cover, old chap? You’ve given me a pretty scare,” said Forsyth to the Duke. “When I found you’d gone, I came on here on the off-chance.”
“I didn’t think it fair to subject you to the sort of night you might have had with me as an inmate, so I cleared out,” Beaumanoir replied, wearily. “I guessed you’d inquire here, so I called in to leave word that I was all right—up to date.”
“You were not molested before quitting my chambers?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Because the place has been visited; it must have been after you left,” said Forsyth, gravely. And he went on to relate how he had found the door broken open, and how he had met two suspicious-looking men on the stairs, one dressed as a clergyman and the other in shabby tweeds.
“Dressed as a clergyman?” cried Beaumanoir, startled into forgetfulness of Sybil’s presence in the room. “Then, Alec, I have
[97]
