There could be no mistake; her manner and her tone alike indicated decision, and that I must obey. Yet I did not withhold these words,—
"I know that you are a Tory, Miss Desmond, but I did not think that you would go to such extremes."
She made no reply, and surrendering all hope for Marcel and myself, I turned the bolt and threw open the little door of the alcove.
It was empty!
I stood still, too much surprised to speak; relief, at that moment, not having any part in my emotions, although it came later.
"You know now, Lieutenant Melville, that your belief is as false as it was unjust," said Miss Desmond, proudly. "You have wronged my father."
"It is true," I confessed; and I confessed too, though not aloud, that perhaps I had wronged some one else yet more. Then I called to Blathwayt and censured him for overlooking the alcove.
"The fugitive might have lain there safely hidden from all of us," I said, "but I saw the place, and perhaps we may find others like it."
He admitted his error humbly, and we passed to the other floors. Here the feeling of relief disappeared from my mind, as we would surely find Alloway near the roof since he was not in the cellar. We searched three rooms, and then I put my hand upon the bolt fastening the door of the third.