I telephoned to the police office, and asked if there was any news from the constables who had to watch the three persons before mentioned.
No, there was no news. Evelina was quite safe inside Villa Ballarat, and the house was being watched.
I lighted a cigar, and gave myself up to thinking over the day's events. I had been successful in everything, and yet I felt far from satisfied; it must have been due to a certain feeling of pity for poor Evelina, and the concern it would occasion her master and mistress. Or—?
If you believe in presentiment, or that great misfortunes—without our being able to divine the cause—throw their shadows before, you will have to attribute it to such a cause. But enough,—I felt unwell and depressed, and when I had lain down it was a long time before I went to sleep.
CHAPTER VIII
THE ARREST
"The actor has vanished, sir!"
These were the words with which I was awakened at seven o'clock next morning.
Before the bed stood my trusty constable, Kolstad, with a face considerably longer than usual.
"What do you say? Have you let him slip through your fingers? That was a—"