Meanwhile, as he learned from the clerk, Grace had received a telephone message and hurriedly left the hotel. The clerk did not know from whom the message had come.
Duvall went to Ruth Morton's bedroom, and called the doctor aside.
"What is the exact nature of Miss Morton's injuries?" he asked.
"She has no injuries, at least in the sense I think you mean. She is suffering solely from the effects of shock."
"What sort of shock?"
"I do not know, of course. Fright, of some sort, terrible fright, I should say. I am informed that some woman, some enemy of hers, came to this room, and was alone with her."
"There is no evidence of any violence?"
"None whatever. But the effects of shock are often worse than those of actual physical violence. They have frequently been known to cause death."
"You do not, I hope, anticipate anything of the sort in this case."
"I cannot say." The doctor shook his head. "She must have been very weak. Her system is responding very slowly."