The sudden flash of some emotion, which she could not fathom, passed over the stranger’s face as she uttered the name, and convinced Mrs. Belassis that she had been right in her surmise.
‘Quite so, Madame. It is his old friend Mr. Torwood whom he has injured—the friend to whom he owes so much. Your suspicion is correct.’
‘Did you know Mr. Torwood once?’
‘Slightly—yes.’
‘Do you know where he is now?’
‘I do.’
A look of triumph gleamed in Mrs. Belassis’ eye.
‘Good,’ she said, with an air of satisfaction. ‘Philip Debenham asserts that he is on board some sailing-vessel upon a sea-voyage. I do not believe he is in any such place. I am convinced that the sea-voyage is simply a blind.’
‘Madame is again right—perfectly right. Mr. Torwood is not at sea at present. The sea-voyage exists only in the vivid imagination of his friend.’
‘Ah!’ Mrs. Belassis drew a long breath. ‘Monsieur,’ she said eagerly, ‘tell me, where is Mr. Torwood?’