The gray woman smiled a strange mirthless smile.
“It is well,” she said. “Now read the letter. The message has come at last!”
Lady Wynde seized the letter eagerly. It contained only these words, without date or signature:
“The time has come to get rid of him! Now!”
CHAPTER III.
A FATEFUL MOVE DECIDED UPON.
Notwithstanding that the sinister message, contained in the single line of the mysterious missive brought to Lady Wynde by her gray companion, had been long expected, it brought with it none the less a shock when it came.
The paper fluttered slowly from the unloosed fingers of the baronet’s wife to the floor, and into the liquid black eyes stole a look half of horror and half of eagerness. Unconsciously her voice repeated the words of the message, in a hoarse whisper:
“It is time to get rid of him. Now!”
Lady Wynde shuddered at the sound of her own voice, and she stared at her gray companion, her eyes full of shrinking and terror. Those ashen orbs returned her stare with one that was bold, evil, and encouraging.
“I—I haven’t the courage I thought, Artress,” faltered her ladyship. “It is a terrible thing to do!”