She looked at him; gasped, and looked again; and then she raised her handkerchief in her hand and wiped her ashy face.
"I think some one did come in," whispered the officer in her ear; "try and recollect who it was." And Alice fell back in hysterics, and was taken from the room.
"Miss Dalrymple has been an invalid for years; she is not strong, like other people," remarked Lady Sarah. "I felt sure we should have a scene of some kind, and that is why I wished the investigation not to be gone into hurriedly."
"Don't you think there are good grounds for an investigation, sir?" testily asked Colonel Hope of the officer.
"I must confess I do think so, colonel," was the reply.
"Of course: you hear, my lady. The difficulty is, how can we obtain the first clue to the mystery?"
"I do not suppose there will be an insuperable difficulty," observed Mr. Pullet. "I believe I have obtained one."
"You are a clever fellow, then," cried the colonel, "if you have obtained it here. What is the clue?"
"Will Lady Sarah allow me to mention it—whatever it may be—without taking offence?" continued the officer, looking at her ladyship.
She bowed her head, wondering much.