"Yes," he said, in a dull, heavy voice. "Yes. That is what I must do."
"And when," she asked, "when will you begin? For God's sake lose no time; every hour that goes by may help that man to escape."
"I will lose no time," he answered almost methodically, and speaking in a dazed, uncertain way. Had it not been for her own excitement, she must have noticed with what little enthusiasm he agreed to her behest.
This behest had indeed staggered him! She had bidden him do the very thing of all others that he would least wish done, bidden him throw a light upon the past of the dead man, and find out all his enemies and friends. She had told him to do this, while there, in his own heart, was the knowledge of the long-kept secret that the dead man was his brother--the secret that the dead man had enjoined on him never to divulge. What was he to do? he asked himself. Which should he obey, the orders of his murdered brother, or the orders of his future wife? And Philip, too, had told him on no account to say anything of the story that had lately been revealed. Then, suddenly, he again determined that he would say nothing to her. It was a task beyond his power to appear to endeavour to track the murderer, or to give any orders on the subject; for since he must kelp the secret of their brotherhood, what right had he to show any interest in the finding of the murderer? Silence would, in every way, be best.
He rose after these reflections and told her that he was going back to London. And she also rose, and said:
"Yes, yes; go back at once! Lose no time, not a moment. Remember, you have promised. You will keep your promise, I know."
He kissed her, and muttered something that she took for words of assent, and prepared to leave her.
"You will feel better soon, dearest, and happier, I hope. This shock will pass away in time."
"It will pass away," she answered, "when you bring me news that the murderer is discovered, or that you have found out some clue to him. It will begin to pass away when I hear that you have found out what enemies he had."
"It is not known that he ever had any enemies," Penlyn said, as he stood holding her cold hand in his. "He was not a man to make enemies, I should think."