The woman seemed to fade away. The door of the inner room was opened and Louise came out. She was still exceedingly pale, and there were dark rims under her eyes. She came across the room with outstretched hands. There was no doubt whatever as to her pleasure.
“You have seen Mr. Bellamy?” she asked.
Laverick shook his head.
“No, I have seen nothing of Bellamy to-day. I came to call upon you this afternoon.”
She wrung her hands.
“You understand, of course!” she exclaimed. “I did not trust Lassen, but I never imagined anything like this. He is an Austrian. Only a few hours ago I learned that he is one of their most heavily paid spies. Streuss got hold of him. But there, I forgot—you do not understand this. It is enough that he laid a plot to get that document from you. Where is it, Mr. Laverick? You have brought it now?”
“Why, no,” Laverick answered, “I have not.”
Her eyes were round with terror. She held out her hands as though to keep away some tormenting thought.
“Where is it?” she cried. “You have not parted with it?
“I have not,” Laverick replied gravely. “It is in the safe deposit of a hotel to which I have moved.”