Early as he was at the rendezvous Audrey was still earlier, and came towards him hurriedly, a pathetic figure in her black dress. She kissed him hastily, then at once announced the reason why she had sent for him.
"I have received an anonymous letter," said Audrey, unexpectedly.
"An anonymous letter," repeated Ralph, curiously. "What about?"
"You can read it for yourself." She produced it from her pocket. "It advises me to refrain from investigating the murder of my mother. If I do, it declares that I shall suffer the greatest grief of my life."
Shawe was evidently startled. "Show me the letter," he said abruptly.
[CHAPTER IX.]
THE QUESTION OF THE CLOCK
Audrey handed over a dingy envelope, bearing the London postmark, and addressed to her at the Camden Hill house. Out of this Shawe took an equally dingy piece of paper--a single sheet of very cheap stationery. On it a few lines in vile caligraphy were scrawled. He read them at once, while Audrey sat down on a near chair and watched him silently.
"Dear Miss"--ran the anonymous letter,--"This is to warn you from invistigiting your poor ma's deth, as I know you are doing. Keip off the gras and don't be silly, or you will sueffer the gratest grief of your life. This is from one who sines as you see--A Frend."
"What do you think of it?" asked the girl, when her lover silently replaced the paper in its envelope and sat down beside her.