With such plans and purposes Langhetti went to visit Beatrice, wondering how she would receive the intelligence of his new purpose.
It was two o’clock in the afternoon before he reached her lodgings. On going up he rapped. A servant came, and on seeing him looked frightened.
{Illustration: “WHAT LIFE WE HAVE LEFT SHALL BE SPENT IN TRAPPING THAT MISCREANT."}
“Is Miss Despard in?”
The servant said nothing, but ran off. Langhetti stood waiting in surprise; but in a short time the landlady came. She had a troubled look, and did not even return his salutation.
“Is Miss Despard in?”
“She is not here, Sir.”
“Not here!”
“No, Sir. I’m frightened. There was a man here early this morning, too.”
“A man here. What for?”