CHAPTER XXXIII. A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
After leaving the photographer's shop, I walked slowly across the littlemarket-place and down the narrow street towards the "Rose and Crown." Myrecent discovery had given me a good deal to think about, or rather, hadafforded me matter for a variety of wild conjectures, but I could follownone of them to a very satisfactory conclusion. I was like a man gropingin the dark. I had stumbled upon several very extraordinary andinexplicable facts; but what connection, if any, they had with oneanother, or how to link them together, I could not tell.
I have always been somewhat absent-minded and, with my brain in such awhirl, it was not a very remarkable thing that I took a wrong turning.The moment I had discovered it I stopped short and looked round. I was ina little street that led past the back entrance of the "Rose and Crown."It was scarcely a public thoroughfare.
I had already turned on my heel to retrace my steps, when I saw twofigures standing talking at the back door of the inn. One I knew at aglance to be Milly Hart. Her companion was standing with his back to me,a muffler round his neck and his cap slouched over his eyes. In the gloomof the fast-falling twilight I did not at first recognise him; but whenhe turned round with a start at the sound of my approaching footsteps andwithdrew his arm with a sudden movement from around his companion'swaist, something in the motion and figure seemed familiar to me.
My approach seemed to discompose them not a little. Milly stepped back atonce into the doorway and disappeared; her companion, without waiting tomake any adieu, turned round and walked swiftly away. As he crossed thestreet to make use of the only exit from it--a narrow passage leadingthrough a court--I had a better view of him. He kept his back to me asmuch as possible and seemed to be using every endeavour to escaperecognition. But although I could not be quite certain, I was pretty surethat it was Leonard de Cartienne--de Cartienne, who never missed anopportunity of sneering at Milly's innocent blue eyes and baby face.
I turned back, and hurried round to the front entrance of the "Rose andCrown." In the parlour I found Cecil and Milly sitting very closetogether upon a sofa.
"Hallo, old chap, you haven't been long!" remarked Cecil, risingreluctantly.
"I should have been here before," I answered, looking steadily at Milly,"but I took a wrong turning and got round the back of this place somehow.Saw you, didn't I, Miss Milly?" I remarked.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at me wonderingly out of her placidblue eyes.
"Me? Oh, no! I have only just come downstairs, have I not, Cecil? It musthave been one of the maids."
Milly and I exchanged a steady gaze, her eyes meeting mine withoutdrooping and her manner betraying only a mild surprise. It was arevelation to me, a lesson which I did not easily forget.
"Oh, I beg your pardon, I'm sure," I said, turning away. "It was ratherdark and no doubt I was mistaken. Strange, too; I thought it was deCartienne with whom you were talking."
Cecil laughed carelessly.
"My dear fellow, you must have been dreaming," he said; "de Cartienne hasnot been here at all."
"Ready, Cecil?" I asked, abandoning the subject. "I think we've kept Besswaiting about long enough."
"I'll come," he replied, drawing on his gloves. "I've scarcely had amoment with you, Milly, though, have I? No news?"
She shook her head sadly and the big tears stood in her eyes. There wasno mistaking her earnestness now.
"None about my father. My uncle and aunt are coming to stay here. Iexpect them tonight."
"Horrid nuisance that is!" remarked Cecil, _sotto voce_. "Never mind, youwon't be so lonely, little woman, will you? And you won't have so much tolook after. I must take you for a drive as soon as we get a fine, clearday; that'll bring some colour into your cheeks. Good-bye!"
She came to the door and watched us drive off. Cecil took the reins and Iclimbed to his side, and, folding my arms, sat for a while in gloomysilence. Then suddenly a gleam of light, or what I hoped might prove so,broke in upon me and I laid my hand upon Cecil's arm.
"Pull up, old chap--quick!" I exclaimed.
He did so, and looked at me wonderingly.
"Turn round and drive back again as fast as you can," I said, my voicetrembling a little with excitement; "I want to ask Milly Hart aquestion."