"How came she to be here?" he asked.
Dr. Tredwell rose and drew him from the room.
"It needs some explanation," he said; and began to relate to him how Mr. Orcutt was escorting Miss Dare to the gate when the bough fell which seemed likely to rob him of his life.
Mr. Ferris, through whose mind those old words of the widow were running in a way that could only be accounted for by the memories which the scene within had awakened—"May the vengeance of Heaven light upon the head of him who has brought me to this pass! May the fate that has come upon me be visited upon him, measure for measure, blow for blow, death for death!"—turned with impressive gravity and asked if Miss Dare had not been hurt.
But Dr. Tredwell shook his head.
"She is not even bruised," said he.
"And yet was on his arm?"
"Possibly, though I very much doubt it."
"She was standing at his side," uttered the quiet voice of Mr. Byrd in their ear; "and disappeared when he did, under the falling branch. She must have been bruised, though she says not. I do not think she is in a condition to feel her injuries."
"You were present, then," observed Mr. Ferris, with a meaning glance at the detective.