A day or two afterwards official opinion was a little disturbed. Lady Alicia, in reply to anxious inquiries, gave a third version of the adventure, from which nothing in particular could be gathered except that nothing in particular had happened.
“What do you make of this, Escott?” asked Dr Congleton, laying her note before his assistant.
“Merely that a woman wrote it.”
“Hum! I suppose that is the explanation.”
Upon which the doctor looked profound and went to lunch.
CHAPTER VI.
“Two five-pound notes, half-a-sovereign, and seven and sixpence in silver,” said Mr Beveridge to himself. “Ah, and a card.”
On the card was written, “From a friend, if you will accept it. A.”
He was standing under the wall, in the secluded walk, holding a little lady’s purse in his hand, and listening to two different footsteps. One little pair of feet were hurrying away on the farther side of the high wall, another and larger were approaching him at a run.