"Yes, Chalmers, what is it?"
"Her ladyship, sir—she's not in her room. She's not in the house.
She's gone, sir!"
CHAPTER XXXVII
"Gone! What do you mean? How could she get away?"
"That's what we don't know, sir. We——"
"Who is we?" demanded Roger sharply.
"I mean Aline, sir; it was she who found it out. I've been about the house the whole night, sir; I've never closed my eyes. No one could have got past me without my knowing it."
Roger glanced at the bed. Esther still slept, the rings around her eyes darker than ever in the cold morning light.
"Come outside," he said in a lower tone. "We mustn't disturb Miss
Rowe. Now tell me."
"It's just as I say, sir. It seems she had told Aline to bring her some tea at six o'clock. I couldn't say what she had in mind to be wanting it so early; it seems as if she was planning to go out before anyone was up, but I don't know, sir. Anyhow, when Aline did bring the tea a moment ago, the room was empty; the bed hadn't been touched."