Lion was not forgotten in the general joy. He was the first to meet the bridal party on their return. He came to the door with a huge white satin bow on, and he wagged his tail in a congratulatory and highly complimentary manner. But he made a sad mess of it after all, for he leaped upon Gertie and put his great paws on her beautiful dress, whereupon he was severely lectured, and afterwards kissed and hugged, and promised a piece of wedding-cake if he was good.
Mr. and Mrs. Marston were going to Paris to spend their honeymoon, and they were going down to Dover by an afternoon train. Ruth had named Paris as the place she would like to see, and of course she had chosen the short sea route.
All had been arranged for the new housekeeping. Mr. Adrian’s effects would be sold off during their absence, and then the old couple would move into the new house, and greet the young couple there on their return.
Marston would have given anything rather than have been compelled to travel that route on his wedding-day. But he had left the choice to Ruth, and he would not oppose her first wish. He would not allow his past to step in and create difficulties already.
As the train rushed down to the sea with them, the scene of the gold robbery came back vividly to his mind.
Something on the journey brought it to Ruth’s mind, and she spoke of it to Marston. Little did she dream how every word stabbed her husband like a knife.
She spoke first of the marvellous way in which the crime had been effected, for she had read the graphic newspaper accounts. She wondered what the thieves would do with so large a sum, and how they had managed to escape detection.
‘But it will bring them no good!’ she said. ‘I always pity the men who commit these terrible crimes. What peace can they know—what happiness have they ever known?’
Marston’s face flushed, and he complained of the heat, and lowered the window.
As he did so the train was stopping at a station.