He led her to some seats near the main entrance, from which they had a view of the corridor, and when they had ensconced themselves he began to talk of indifferent matters, so as to give a semblance of naturalness to their attitude. Very soon Mrs. Caistor Scorton, accompanied by Freddie, came out of the breakfast room and passed along the corridor towards the Corinthian’s Room.
“Quick! I want to overtake them,” ordered Westenhanger.
He and Eileen came up with the others just before reaching the end of the passage. Westenhanger stepped forward and opened the door, so that he could see Mrs. Caistor Scorton’s face as she entered, but he learned very little. She seemed to have regained complete control of herself.
All four crossed the chess-board and approached the cabinet. Freddie had made no mistake. There on its velvet bed lay the Talisman, protected by the bell of tinted glass which had been moved back to its old position. Both doors of the cabinet were closed. Everything seemed to have returned to its normal state.
Westenhanger, covertly scrutinising Mrs. Caistor Scorton’s face, saw a flash of expression which took him by surprise. She seemed to be witnessing some incredible happening—something beyond the bounds of the possible. It almost suggested that she had disbelieved Freddie and had been staggered by the actual sight of the Talisman. In an instant the signs of bewilderment vanished and she again had herself under control. Freddie had evidently noticed her amazement.
“Oh, it’s come home again, all right,” he said, triumphantly. “Old Dangerfield was sound enough, after all. But how it got here is a mystery, isn’t it, Mrs. Caistor Scorton?”
“I don’t understand it,” she admitted, dully, and as she spoke she allowed her face to reveal the stupefaction which was evidently still her dominant feeling.
“Well I’m very glad to see it again,” said Eileen. “It’s a relief to find that it wasn’t stolen after all.”
Her glance made Mrs. Caistor Scorton wince. Neither of them had forgotten Mrs. Caistor Scorton’s evidence against Eileen; and the older woman evidently had little difficulty in reading the girl’s feelings—she avoided any recognition of the underlying meaning in Eileen’s last remark by turning to Freddie Stickney.
“I really hardly believed your story at first, Mr. Stickney; but one can’t disbelieve one’s eyes. It seems incredible that it has come back again. I feel almost inclined to doubt it even now.”