“Suicide, by God!” Cedric gave a shout of laughter. “I must tell Melissa that! Driven to death! Ricky! Oh, by all that’s famous!”
“Cedric, you are quite abominable!” said Louisa roundly. “Of course Richard has not committed suicide! He has merely gone away. I’m sure I don’t know where, and if you say anything of the sort to Melissa I shall never forgive you! In fact, I beg you will tell Melissa nothing more than that Richard has been called away on an urgent matter of business.”
“What, can’t I tell her about the lock of yaller hair? Now, don’t be a spoil-sport, Louisa!”
“Odious creature!”
“We believe the lock of hair to be a relic of some long-forgotten affair,” said George. “Possibly a boy-and-girl attachment. It would be gross impropriety to mention it beyond these walls.”
“If it comes to that, old fellow, what about the gross impropriety of poking and prying into Ricky’s drawers?” asked Cedric cheerfully.
“We did no such thing!” Louisa cried. “It was found upon the floor in the library!”
“Dropped? Discarded? Seems to me Ricky’s been leading a double life. I’d have said myself he never troubled much about females. Won’t I roast him when I see him!”
“You will do nothing of the sort. Oh dear, I wish to heaven I knew where he has gone, and what it all means!”
“I’ll tell you where he’s gone!” offered Cedric. “He’s gone to find the yaller-haired charmer of his youth. Not a doubt of it! Lord, I’d give a monkey to see him, though. Ricky on a romantic adventure!”