So they dropped into a long silence, broken only by occasional whispered remarks, until, as minutes grew into hours, both men grew restless, anxious and suspicious that something untoward had happened.
Neither cared to leave the other to go to the lawyer’s in search of Audrey; but when she had been away nearly four hours, the anxiety felt by Gerard grew so keen that he was about to send his cousin on a mission of inquiry, when, to the intense relief of both the young men, they heard the voices of Edgar and Audrey upon the staircase.
A moment later the door was thrown open, and the four met, all haggard, pale, excited, and worn out with suspense.
“What news?” asked Gerard, as soon as they were all shut in the room, after making a careful survey of the big cupboard in which Geoffrey had concealed himself and of the staircase outside.
“Nothing good,” said poor Audrey tearfully, as she let him take her limp, nerveless hand.
“You saw Mr. Masson?”
“Yes. And told him everything. He listened, asked questions, made notes. But I don’t think he believed one word in ten!”
And the poor overwrought woman burst into a flood of tears.
“Oh, come, he must have thought something of what you said. He kept you a very long time!” said Gerard.
She shook her head.