"Well, here we are, at last," said Adrian. "And my wife's in the doorway waiting to scold me for being so late."
Inez ran to meet him. "I have been anxious," she declared. She noted her husband's companion, and stepped back, startled. "Adrian, who is this?"
"A daughter of the mur----" Adrian began. He broke the telltale word in two: "Of James Burthen--Benito's partner."
"Ah, then you know my brother," Inez hailed her eagerly. She took the girl's hands in her own and pressed them. "You must tell us all about him--quickly. We have waited long for news."
"You are--Mr. Windham's sister?" cried the girl almost incredulously. Then, with a swift abandonment to emotion she threw her arms about the elder woman's neck and sobbed.
Stanley followed them into the house. He saw Inez supporting her companion, soothing her in those mysterious ways which only women know. His mind was stirred with grave perplexities.
A peremptory knock aroused him from his cogitations. Could it be the gambler so soon? He thought there were voices. Several men, no doubt.
Inez called out in a whisper, "Who is there?"
"Go back," her husband ordered. "It's all right, dear. They're friends of mine."
Inez came out quickly and stood beside him, looking up into his face. "You're sure? There's no--no danger?"