XXVIII
AN INTRUSION
I was so moved by this discovery that I was not myself for severalmoments.
The reading of these words over the body which had been laid away underthe Flower Parlor was in keeping with the knot of crape on thewindow-shutter and argued something more than remorse on the part ofsome one of the Knollys family. Who was this one, and why, with suchfeelings in the breast of any of the three, had the deceit and crime towhich I had been witness succeeded to such a point as to demand theattention of the police? An impossible problem of which I dared seek nosolution, even in the faces of these seemingly innocent girls.
I was, of course, in no position to determine what plan Mr. Gryceintended to pursue. I only knew what course I myself meant to follow,which was to remain quiet and sustain the part I had already played inthis house as visitor and friend. It was therefore as such both in heartand manner that I hastened from my room late in the afternoon to inquirethe meaning of the cry I had just heard issue from Lucetta's lips. Ithad come from the front of the house, and, as I hastened thither, I metthe two Misses Knollys, looking more openly anxious and distraught thanat any former time of anxiety and trouble.
As they looked up and saw my face, Loreen paused and laid her hand onLucetta's arm. But Lucetta was not to be restrained.
"He has dared to enter our gates, bringing a police officer with him,"was her hoarse and almost unintelligible cry. "We know that the man withhim is a police officer because he was here once before, and though hewas kind enough then, he cannot have come the second time except to----"
Here the pressure of Loreen's hand was so strong as to make the feebleLucetta quiver. She stopped, and Miss Knollys took up her words:
"Except to make us talk on subjects much better buried in oblivion. MissButterworth, will you go down with us? Your presence may act as arestraint. Mr. Trohm seems to have some respect for you."
"Mr. Trohm?"
"Yes. It is his coming which has so agitated Lucetta. He and a man namedGryce are just coming up the walk. There goes the knocker. Lucetta, youmust control yourself or leave me to face these unwelcome visitorsalone."
Lucetta, with a sudden fierce effort, subdued her trembling.
"If he must be met," said she, "my anger and disdain may give someweight to your quiet acceptance of the family's disgrace. I shall notaccept his denunciations quietly, Loreen. You must expect me to showsome of the feelings that I have held in check all these years." Andwithout waiting for reply, without waiting even to see what effect thesestrange words might have upon me, she dashed down the stairs and pulledopen the front door.
We had followed rapidly, too rapidly for speech ourselves, and weretherefore in the hall when the door swung back, revealing the twopersons I had been led to expect. Mr. Trohm spoke first, evidently inanswer to the defiance to be seen in Lucetta's face.
"Miss Knollys, a thousand pardons. I know I am transgressing, but, Iassure you, the occasion warrants it. I am certain you will acknowledgethis when you hear what my errand is."
"Your errand? What can your errand be but to----"
Why did she pause? Mr. Gryce had not looked at her. Yet that it wasunder his influence she ceased to commit herself I am as convinced as wecan be of anything in a world which is half deceit.
"Let us hear your errand," put in Loreen, with that gentle emphasiswhich is no sign of weakness.
"I will let this gentleman speak for me," returned Mr. Trohm. "You haveseen him before--a New York detective of whose business in this town youcannot be ignorant."
Lucetta turned a cold eye upon Mr. Gryce and quietly remarked:
"When he visited this lane a few days ago, he professed to be seeking aclue to the many disappearances which have unfortunately taken placewithin its precincts."
Mr. Trohm's nod was one of acquiescence. But Lucetta was still lookingat the detective.
"Is that your business now?" she asked, appealing directly to Mr. Gryce.
His fatherly accents when he answered her were a great relief after thealternate iciness and fire with which she had addressed his companionand himself.
"I hardly know how to reply without arousing your just anger. If yourbrother is in----"
"My brother would face you with less patience than we. Tell us yourerrand, Mr. Gryce, and do not think of calling in my brother till wehave failed to answer your questions or satisfy your demands."
"Very well," said he. "The quickest explanation is the kindest in thesecases. I merely wish, as a police officer whose business it is to locatethe disappearances which have made this lane notorious, and who believesthe surest way to do this is to find out once and for all where they didnot and could not have taken place, to make an official search of thesepremises as I already have those of Mother Jane and of Deacon Spear."
"And my errand here," interposed Mr. Trohm, "is to make everything easierby the assurance that my house will be the next to undergo a completeinvestigation. As all the houses in the lane will be visited alike, noneof us need complain or feel our good name attacked."
This was certainly thoughtful of him, but knowing how much they had tofear, I could not expect Loreen or Lucetta to show any great senseeither of his kindness or Mr. Gryce's consideration. They were in noposition to have a search made of their premises, and, serene as wasLoreen's nature and powerful as was Lucetta's will, the apprehensionunder which they labored was evident to us all, though neither of themattempted either subterfuge or evasion.
"If the police wish to search this house, it is open to them," saidLoreen.
"But not to Mr. Trohm," quoth Lucetta, quickly. "Our poverty should beour protection from the curiosity of neighbors."
"Mr. Trohm has no wish to intrude," was Mr. Gryce's conciliatory remark;but Mr. Trohm said nothing. He probably understood why Lucetta wished tocurtail his stay in this house better than Mr. Gryce did.