"Don't you know where he has gone?" asked Margaret, the gloom of death descending upon her heart.
"Not exactly; he vouchsafed to mutter 'Wales,' as he ran down the steps, without even a farewell to his boy, far less to his wife, and for what, or what he can mean by it is a mystery to me."
"Did he leave no message for me?"
"I believe he did. I do seem to recall that he said you were to go to Mr. Davenport for explanations. Yes, that was the message."
"Good heaven! And Mr. Davenport left word that I was to come to your husband for explanations! They must have gone away together! And I am left alone to fight for my life and to stem the tide of fraud!" moaned poor Margaret, bursting into tears; "and oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?"
CHAPTER XXI.
WAS IT A RUSE?
The tide of horror was mounting higher, the waters gurgled to her lips, and her own feeble hands must raise a footway from out of the hissing waves to bear her safely over.
"Where now, miss?" asked Symonds, holding the coach door in his hand.