Dr. Denton beckoned Sarah, spoke to her in a low voice, and I heard her answer, "Yes sir," before she left the group and went toward the house, taking Loretta with her.
"Who saw him last?" asked the doctor cheerfully, sitting down with Wiggles on his knee.
"Michel, our chauffeur. Peter was with him in the barn right after lunch."
"And where is Michel now?"
"He went with several of the men on the place to search," said Mrs. Goodrich. "I think—they didn't tell me, but I think they mean to drag the pond—" She went to pieces there. But it was only for a moment, for Sarah appeared again, with a glass of something. Dr. Benton took it from her.
"Drink this," he said quietly, his hand on Mrs. Goodrich's shoulder.
Watching him, I suddenly knew that it would be all right; that Peter was not really lost, but only mislaid; that we would all be spared a cruel and terrible sorrow. He seemed to read my mind, for he nodded at me and said, smiling, "That's better, Miss Carroll."
Sometimes I think that the man is really a magician.
It was perhaps ten minutes later that Michel appeared through the hedge. Mrs. Goodrich, rather dangerously calm, I thought, got to her feet.
"Well?" she breathed.