“In the note which he left me he asked me to—feel no anxiety,” Miss Alicia said.
“He left you a note of explanation? I wish we had known this earlier!” Mr. Palford's tone had the note of relieved exclamation. Perhaps there was an entirely simple solution of the painful difficulty.
But his hope had been too sanguine.
“It was not a note of explanation, exactly. He went away too suddenly to have time to explain.”
The two men looked at each other disturbedly.
“He had not mentioned to you his intention of going?” asked Mr. Grimby.
“I feel sure he did not know he was going when he said good-night. He remained with Captain Palliser talking for some time.” Miss Alicia's eyes held wavering and anxious question as she looked from one to the other. She wondered how much more than herself her visitors knew. “He found a telegram when he went to his room. It contained most disquieting news about Mr. Strangeways. He—he had got away from the place where—”
“Got away!” Mr. Palford was again exclamatory. “Was he in some institution where he was kept under restraint?”
Miss Alicia was wholly unable to explain to herself why some quality in his manner filled her with sudden distress.
“Oh, I think not! Surely not! Surely nothing of that sort was necessary. He was very quiet always, and he was getting better every day. But it was important that he should be watched over. He was no doubt under the care of a physician in some quiet sanatorium.”