The young man walked up and down the room for a few minutes while the inspector made ready to depart. Noel was deeply touched by the man's consideration and made up his mind that he should not lose by the delicacy he had shown in preserving his name and that of Agnes from the tongue of gossips. He saw plainly that Darby was a man he could thoroughly trust and forthwith did so.
"Mr. Inspector," he said, coming forward to shake hands, "you have acted in a most kind and generous manner and I cannot show my appreciation of your behavior more than by telling you the exact truth of this sad affair."
"I know the truth," said Darby staring.
"Not the exact truth, which closely concerns the honor of my family. But as you have saved that by suppressing certain evidence it is only right that you should know more than you do know."
"I shall keep quiet anything that you tell me, my lord," said Darby greatly pleased; "that is, anything that is consistent with my official duty."
"Of course. Also I wish you to know exactly how matters stand, since there may be trouble with Chaldea."
"Oh, I don't think so, my lord. Chaldea has married that dwarf."
"Kara, the Servian gypsy?"
"Yes. She's given him a bad time, and he put up with it because he had no authority over her; but now that she's his romi—as these people call a wife—he'll make her dance to his playing. They left England yesterday for foreign parts—Hungary, I fancy, my lord. The girl won't come back in a hurry, for Kara will keep an eye on her."
Lambert drew a long breath of relief. "I am glad," he said simply, "as I never should have felt safe while she remained in England."