“Well, I learned that Miss Grison had gone away at noon for a few days.”
“Where has she gone to?” asked Marie sharply.
“Her servants could not tell me, since she has left no address. All she said was that she would be absent for a few days, and she left her establishment in charge of the head waiter.”
“That secrecy shows that she is at Belstone,” cried Miss Inderwick triumphantly; “it is just the kind of underhand thing she would do.”
“Well,” said Alan, settling the question, “she may suspect that Sorley is hiding in The Monastery and may wish to catch him. If she gets into the house, Dick and I can compel her to state her reason. But indeed, Marie, I don’t see how she could enter The Monastery without Henny or Jenny or Granny Trent seeing her.”
“You don’t know what a curious house it is, Alan. There are ways of getting out and in and hiding and spying, which no one would believe. I know of some myself, but Miss Grison is better acquainted with the place than I, as Granny always said that she explored the house thoroughly when she was my mother’s companion. I’m sure you’ll catch her; and if you do, tell her that we have found the jewels. That will settle her.”
“Nothing will settle her until Sorley is proved innocent or guilty,” said Fuller gravely. “The woman is obsessed by one idea, and that is revenge. I only wish we could find Jotty, for he knows a lot, I am sure, which could put things straight.”
“Jotty can’t be found,” said Latimer lazily, “although Moon and his underlings are keeping their eyes open. He hasn’t gone back to Miss Grison’s or to Mother Slaig, either. He has vanished as completely as Mr. Sorley has. However, we shall see what can be done by our sleeping a night in your old family mansion, Miss Inderwick. I’ll come down.”
This being settled, the trio went to the station, and in due time arrived at Lewes. They talked during the journey about the jewels, and Dick had again to listen to the account of the solution of the riddle, in which, after all, he was so deeply interested that he did not object to the twice-told tale. Then Marie chattered about her good fortune, quoted the prophecy which certainly now seemed to be fulfilled, speculated on the amount of money which the sale of the gems would bring her, and talked of the improvements she would make in her family mansion. All this may seem rather heartless, when her uncle was under a cloud of suspicion; but the girl was so thoroughly convinced that the man was innocent and that her newly-acquired fortune would enable her to prove his innocence, by employing the best detective talent to hunt down the true criminal, that she did not worry over the matter so much as might have been expected. Moreover, her uncle had always behaved selfishly to her, so she did not think that trouble would harm him for the time being. Indeed she hoped that it might improve him into something less egotistical.
On arriving at Lewes, they found Mr. Fuller in person waiting for them in his pony-chaise, bubbling over with unexpected news.