Orbit shook his head.
“None. He is a solitary little chap, self-contained and retiring, and I don’t think he cares very much for the society of other boys. He would not have gone away and remained like this without a word if he was able to communicate with his family. It seems inexplicable! Goddard must be dreadfully cut up about it, to say nothing of the boy’s mother, and I feel badly myself! I should hate to think of any accident happening to him! I’m going in to see Goddard and ask if there is anything I can do.—Meanwhile, you’ve no news for me about Hughes’ strange death, have you? It is odd that two such mysterious, unrelated incidents should have occurred in less than a week, even though Hughes must have taken the poison either accidentally or through someone’s murderous intent, after he left the Mall that night. Haven’t you come upon the slightest indication?”
“We’re working on several promising ones.” The time-worn formula was repeated a trifle wearily. “Let you know when there’s anything to give out, Mr. Orbit.... Come on, Mac; it’s nearly noon.”
Orbit turned toward the Goddard house but the others had scarcely gone a half dozen steps in the opposite direction when again they were halted. This time it was by the pretty little French nurse and she drew the Bellamy baby closer, gazing at McCarty with wide, affrighted eyes as she voiced her question.
“Pardon, monsieur, but is it of a truth, that which I have heard? Must it be that the little garçon of that house there is lost?”
“That’s about the size of it, ma’am,” McCarty removed his reblocked derby with a flourish. “I don’t suppose you saw him playing around anywheres yesterday afternoon?”
“But no!” She caught her breath with a slight gasp. “All the night he has been depart, alors! It is terrible, that! He is so gentil, so good, the little Horace! He would not run away—is it that he have been stole’? Me, I have fear for the little Maude—”
She hugged her small charge tighter and the baby stared at them solemnly.
“There ain’t much danger of that!” McCarty laughed reassuringly. “I guess the lad will turn up all right. When did you see him last?”
“Yesterday morning, when he have passed with M’sieu Trafford. Oh, if he has been keednap’ we do not go beyond these gates!”