To their relief that lady was out; but that did not prevent them from lingering and having nearly an hour’s chat with the loquacious maid.
A few ingenious remarks led the conversation around to the beautiful young girl, who had until so lately been a guest beneath that roof, as they phrased it.
“Gone from here!” echoed the girl. “Why, it is strange that I did not hear something of it; still, it may be, as I have been away—calling upon a sick relative—since late yesterday afternoon. I just came back less than ten minutes before you came. I had not even had time to take my bonnet upstairs when you rang the bell.”
Jerry Gaines was for not prolonging the interview, though they had gleaned many startling facts from this casual conversation, but something seemed to impel the young artist to question her still further on the subject of the beautiful stranger guest of young Mrs. Brown—if she had a lover, and if he ever called, and how often?
It was then that a remark fell from the maid’s lips that caused both of them to start violently, and to exchange covert glances of dismay with each other, taking great care that the maid should not notice this secret telegraphing between them.
When there was absolutely nothing more to learn, they took their leave, promising to call again soon; but the next time it should not be upon business, but upon her fair self.
When the two friends got around the first corner they stopped short—gazing long and fixedly into each other’s eyes.
“It will never do to disclose what we have learned to John Dinsmore to-night,” said Jerry Gaines, huskily, and in this opinion Ballou heartily concurred.
“No, it will be best to await developments on the morrow,” he declared.