All at once Dunbar’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the cloak which Warrington had dropped half-way down the bank, with its crumbling sand and débris.
At sight of it, Dunbar uttered a wild cry of surprise, for he recognized the garment at a glance.
“It is the very cloak that Jack Danton had all ready to wrap Mrs. Arleigh in!” exclaimed the detective. “I remember well the style of it and the very peculiar buttons. I could not be deceived in it, and it is the same cloak; there can be no manner of doubt about that.”
He proceeded to roll the cloak up into a small bundle, and fastened it to the saddle-bow—a certain proof that Rosamond Arleigh had been at this spot since midnight of the night before; then, with swift but careful steps, he descended the steep bank to the very edge of the water.
“Good God!” he ejaculated, “can she have fallen into the water; or, worse, can some one have thrown her in, to get rid of her?” he panted.
As he spoke, he stooped and drew from the wet sand, imbedded almost out of sight, a little kid slipper, the mate to the one that he had found in Doctor Danton’s carriage. Yes; there was no doubt of it.
The detective thrust the little slipper into his coat pocket, and proceeded to carefully examine the stream.
No trace of anything. Of course, no human creature could long survive in that black, swirling flood. The current was very rapid, and the drift-wood, logs, and débris, which half-filled the stream, were deadly obstacles, with which a falling body coming in contact would surely be deprived of life.
Dunbar’s heart sunk. He was already deeply interested in the strange case, both for the sake of his friend—and he had begun to suspect that Jack Danton cared very much for his interesting patient—and in the interests of his own profession.
“She has been drowned,” he said, sadly, as he climbed up the steep bank and went back to where his horse patiently awaited his coming. “I shrink from breaking the sad news to Danton; but I must, I suppose. And poor little Violet! Well, at all events, it is better to know the worst than to be in suspense.”