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Page 35
Mr. Blake shook his head. "No," said he shortly, "go on." But that
last remark of Mr. Gryce had evidently made its impression.
"Inquiry revealed, also, two or three other interesting facts. First,
that this gentleman qualified though he was to shine in ladies'
society, never obtruded himself there, but employed his leisure time
instead, in walking the lower streets of the city, where he was seen
more than once conversing with certain poor girls at street corners
and in blind alleys. The last one he talked with, believed from her
characteristics to be the same one that was abducted from his
house--"
"Hold there," said Mr. Blake with some authority in his tone, "there
you are mistaken; that is impossible."
"Ah, and why?"
"The girl you allude to had bright golden hair, something which the
woman who lived in my house did not possess."
"Indeed. I thought you had never noticed the woman who sewed for you,
sir,--did not know how she looked?"
"I should have noticed her if she had had such hair as the girl you
speak of."
Mr. Gryce smiled and opened his pocketbook.
"There is a sample of her hair, sir," said he, taking out a thin
strand of brilliant hair and showing it to the gentleman before him.
"Bright you see, and golden as that of the unfortunate creature you
talked with the other night."
Mr. Blake stooped forward and lifted it with a hand that visibly
trembled. "Where did you get this?" asked he at last, clenching it to
his breast with sudden passion.
"From out of the comb which the girl had been using the night before."
The imperious man flung it hastily from him.
"We waste our time," said he, looking Mr. Gryce intently in the face.
"All that you have said does not account for your presence here nor
the tone you have used while addressing me. What are you keeping
back? I am not a man to be trifled with."
Mr. Gryce rose to his feet. "You are right," said he, and he gave a
short glance in my direction. "All that I have said would not perhaps
justify me in this intrusion, if--" he looked again towards me. "Do
you wish me to continue?" he asked.
Mr. Blake's intent look deepened. "I see no reason why you should not
utter the whole," said he. "A good story loses nothing by being told
to the end. You wish to say something about my journey to
Schoenmaker's house, I suppose."
Mr. Gryce gravely shook his head.
"What, you can let such a mystery as that go without a word?"
"I am not here to discuss mysteries that have no connection with the
sewing-girl in whose cause I am interested."
"Then," said Mr. Blake, turning for the first time upon my superior
with all the dignified composure for which he was eminent, "it is no
longer necessary for us to prolong this interview. I have allowed,
nay encouraged you to state in the plainest terms what it was you had
or imagined you had against me, knowing that my actions of late, seen
by those who did not possess the key to them, must have seemed a
little peculiar. But when you say you have no interest in any mystery
disconnected with the girl who has lived the last few months in my
house, I can with assurance say that it is time we quitted this
unprofitable conversation, as nothing which I have lately done, said
or thought here or elsewhere has in any way had even the remotest
bearing upon that individual; she having been a stranger to me while
in my house, and quite forgotten by me, after her unaccountable
departure hence."
Mr. Gryce's hand which had been stretched out towards the hitherto
untouched decanter before him, suddenly dropped. "You deny then,"
said he, "all connection between yourself and the woman, lady or
sewing-girl, who occupied that room above our heads for eleven months
previous to the Sunday morning I first had the honor to make your
acquaintance."
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