With her beautiful white fingers she pushed the hair back from my forehead and looked at me for a long time.
“Yes, yes,” she whispered softly.
I was too happy to say a word.
“Mattia and I have had a long talk,” she said, “but I want you to tell me yourself how you came to enter the Driscoll family.”
I told her what she asked and she only interrupted me to tell me to be exact on certain points. Never had I been listened to with such attention. Her eyes did not leave mine.
When I had finished she was silent for some time, still looking at me. At last she said: “This is a very serious matter and we must act prudently. But from this moment you must consider yourself as the friend,” she hesitated a little, “as the brother of Arthur. In two hours’ time go to the Hotel des Alpes; for the time being you will stay there. I will send some one to the hotel to meet you. I am obliged to leave you now.”
Again she kissed me and after having shaken hands with Mattia she walked away quickly.
“What did you tell Mrs. Milligan?” I demanded of Mattia.
“All that I have said to you and a lot more things,” he replied. “Ah, she is a kind lady, a beautiful lady!”
“Did you see Arthur?”