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Page 12
Mrs. Daniels trembled, and took a step forward. I thought she was
going to speak, but instead of that she drew back again in her
strange hesitating way.
Mr. Gryce did not seem to notice.
"Perhaps sir," said he, "if you will step upstairs with me to the room
occupied by this girl, I may be able to show you certain evidences
which will convince you that our errand here is not one of
presumption."
"I am ready to concede that without troubling myself with proof,"
observed the master of the house with the faintest show of asperity.
"Yet if there is anything to see of a startling nature, perhaps I had
best yield to your wishes. Whereabouts in the house is this girl's
room, Mrs. Daniels?"
"It is--I gave her the third story back, Mr. Blake;" replied that
woman, nervously eyeing his face. "It was large and light for sewing,
and she was so nice--"
He impatiently waved his hand on which he had by this time fitted his
glove to a nicety, as if these details were an unnecessary bore to
him, and motioned her to show the way. Instantly a new feeling
appeared to seize her, that of alarm.
"I hardly think you need trouble Mr. Blake to go up-stairs," she
murmured, turning towards Mr. Gryce. "I am sure when you tell him the
curtains were torn, and the chair upset, the window open and--"
But Mr. Gryce was already on the stairs with Mr. Blake, whom this
small opposition seemed to have at once determined.
"O my God!" she murmured to herself, "who could have foreseen this."
And ignoring my presence with all the egotism of extreme agitation,
she hurried past me to the room above, where I speedily joined her.
CHAPTER III
THE CONTENTS OF A BUREAU DRAWER
Mr. Blake was standing in the centre of the room when I entered,
carelessly following with his eyes the motion of Mr. Gryce's finger
as that gentleman pointed with unwearying assiduity to the various
little details that had struck us. His hat was still in his hand,
and he presented a very formidable and imposing appearance, or so
Mrs. Daniels appeared to think as she stood watching him from the
corner, whither she had withdrawn herself.
"A forcible departure you see," exclaimed Mr. Gryce; "she had not even
time to gather up her clothes;" and with a sudden movement he stooped
and pulled out one of the bureau drawers before the eyes of his
nonchalant listener.
Immediately a smothered exclamation struck our ears, and Mrs. Daniels
started forward.
"I pray, gentlemen," she entreated, advancing in such a way as to
place herself against the front of the bureau in a manner to preclude
the opening of any more drawers, "that you will remember that a
modest woman such as this girl was, would hardly like to have her
clothing displayed before the eyes of strangers."
Mr. Gryce instantly closed the drawer.
"You are right," said he; "pardon the rough ways of a somewhat
hardened officer of the law."
She drew up closer to the bureau, still protecting it with her meagre
but energetic form while her eyes rested with almost a savage
expression upon the master of the house as if he, and not the
detective, had been the aggressor whose advances she feared.
Mr. Blake did not return the look.
"If that is all you can show me, I think I will proceed to my
appointment," said he. "The matter does seem to be more serious than
I thought, and if you judge it necessary to take any active measures,
why, let no consideration of my great and inherent dislike to
notoriety of any kind, interfere with what you consider your duty. As
for the house, it is at your command, under Mrs. Daniels' direction.
Good morning." And returning our bows with one singularly impressive
for all its elegant carelessness, he at once withdrew.
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