somewhat later, ethel and her companion were walking rapidly along the road towards the town. during part of the time charlock had been quiet, almost taciturn. but now he began to speak more freely.
"i have been thinking the matter over," he explained, "and i think there is a good deal in what that poor creature, swift, said. it may come with a bad grace from me, but i have a shrewd suspicion that arnold rent is no better than he should be. i have heard rumours of certain statements made by swift when under the influence of drink, and they have not impressed me favourably. it is possible that swift is right and that arnold rent set out to-night to try to find mr. grey. frequently people, otherwise demented, display a wonderful tenacity of purpose and clearness of mind when they have a definite object in view. i know a man hopelessly insane who is one of the best military tacticians in europe. keep him to his hobby and he might lead an army to victory. but trust him in any other capacity and you will make a fatal blunder. now, i propose, late as it is, to go off to dr. tanza's yacht and see whether arnold rent has been there."
ethel expressed her gratitude and waited in the shelter on the quay for charlock's return. he came presently, accompanied by grey, and the information that the yacht had seen nothing of the missing man.
"i am exceedingly sorry for you, miss hargrave," grey murmured. "it is plucky of you to have come——"
"won't you say foolish?" ethel murmured. "you don't know how ashamed i feel of myself. it is very thoughtless of me to give you all this trouble for nothing."
"i beg you won't mention it," grey said eagerly. "i admire the way you have behaved beyond measure. i am sure you are fearless, and it is only consideration for other people that brings you out alone at this time of night. as you have proved your mettle so clearly, i am not afraid to speak plainly. you will have to be prepared for an unpleasant shock before long, and if you have formed a high estimate of mr. rent's character——"
"that illusion has been dispelled lately," ethel said quietly. "mr. rent is nothing to me except that his mother has been more than kind, and if you have anything unpleasant to say, i implore you not to hesitate on my account. let me know what it is."
"ah, that i cannot do," grey went on. "it is a matter of suspicion for the moment. and now let us see whether we can find your patient. mr. charlock has told me everything which you confided to him, and i am of opinion that swift is not far wrong."
"then we are going back to my house?" charlock asked.
"that will be best," grey replied. "possibly we are on a wild goose chase, but we ought not to neglect a single chance."
the trio turned in silence and made their way to charlock's residence. charlock invited ethel to come inside and wait while he and grey searched the grounds.
"i would rather come with you," ethel said. "i have not quite as much bravery as you give me credit for. i don't think i could stay alone in this deserted house."
"oh, nonsense," charlock said, with a return of his old peremptory manner. "really, you must do as you are told. we shall not be very far away. and after what you have gone through to-night this will be a mere trifle."
ethel was about to demur, when she met charlock's steady glance. there was something in the look that checked the words on her lips and summoned her fleeting courage. from the first charlock had fascinated her in this way. she seemed to know that she would be compelled to do almost anything he asked her. and she knew, also, that there was nothing he would require her to do that would not bear the light of day. she seemed to be comforted and uplifted, and a smile came to her lips.
"you are arbitrary," she said, "not to say rude. but i will be obedient. only don't keep me waiting longer than you can help. i am ashamed to think that i have given you so much trouble."
charlock turned upon his heel without reply. he seemed to take it for granted that ethel should do exactly as he asked her. possibly it gratified his vanity to notice how implicitly she placed herself in his hands. charlock produced a couple of candlesticks from a cupboard and proceeded to light them and place them on the mantelshelf. there was a solitary chair in the room, upon which he asked ethel to be seated.
"there," he said. "try not to worry. we sha'n't be long."
ethel smiled bravely in reply. as a matter of fact, her courage was oozing out rapidly again. she was not in the least anxious to be left alone in that echoing house. half-ashamed of herself, she crept to the front door to see if the two men had gone, and flung it open. anything was better than that gloomy prison, where she could hear her own heart beating, and the scratching of a mouse behind the panel sounded loud and menacing. there were queer noises, too, here and there, as if the girl were surrounded with unseen people who were wandering about the bare floors. a sudden draught of air caused a door upstairs to slam with a noise which set the whole fabric quivering. it was almost more than the girl could stand. she felt that if she remained much longer she must cry aloud. she tried to reproach herself with her own timidity. she tried to imagine that it was merely fancy which caused her to believe that someone was creeping up the stairs with stealthy steps.
but the feeling would not be fought down. the stealthy steps were far too real. it was impossible to sit there longer; she must satisfy herself that her nerves were playing her false. in an access of anger she snatched a candle from the mantelpiece and rushed into the hall.
it was no fancy. somebody was actually creeping up the stairs. she saw the dim outline of a man. she forgot herself and her prudence in the terror of the moment. a scream escaped her lips. the man turned and regarded her with eyes that shone green and threatening out of the gloom. then the steps were retraced and ethel was conscious that a heavy hand was laid upon her shoulder.
"stop that noise," the stranger said hoarsely. "do you want to betray me? what brings you here, ethel?"
at the mention of her name the girl looked up. to her intense surprise she saw arnold rent. he was fully dressed. he carried something that looked like a lever in his hand. the strange, uneasy light was still in his eyes, but there was a resolute look upon his face which spoke of directness and determination of purpose.
"what are you doing here?" she faltered.
"never mind," rent whispered. "that is no business of yours. if you make a fuss, if you call those men back, you will be sorry for it all the rest of your life. i am not doing any harm. it isn't as if i had come after mrs. charlock's jewels."
ethel started at the suggestion. what connection could there be between arnold rent and the missing jewels?
"you are not a thief?" she stammered.
"not in that way," rent said in the same hoarse whisper. "but there are other things besides jewels. there is that frenchwoman and her papers. i did not know at the time. i did not guess that she had been cunning enough. but what am i doing? what am i saying? if you dare betray me i will take you by the throat——"
rent broke off in a whisper. an expression of malignant fury convulsed his face. ethel could stand it no longer. with a sudden cry she burst from rent's detaining clasp and fled into the garden, calling for help. as she crossed the lawn towards the sundial she could hear rent's footsteps behind her. she was very near to the fountain now, when rent closed with her and, lifting her high in the air, dragged her to the side of the lawn.
"not there, not there," he said in the same hissing whisper. "if you value your life, keep away from here. i don't know what the danger is, though i could have told you a day or two ago. if my mind was only clear i could explain. but, as you value your future, don't come here any more."
the words might have meant a great deal, or they might have meant nothing. there was no time to inquire or explain, for out of the gloom emerged the figures of grey and his companion. no sooner did rent see them than his manner changed. he withdrew his hand from ethel's arm and darted off to the house, muttering something about papers and diaries. ethel would have staggered and fallen had not charlock caught her.
"did you see him?" she asked.
"oh, we saw him right enough," charlock said with unexpected tenderness. "he has gone into the house. and now let me take you home. this is no place for you."
