[CHAPTER XIV]
THE MOTH AND THE FLAME
DOUGLAS brought the powerful roadster to a standstill under the porte-cochère of the Carew mansion, and disentangling himself from among the levers and wheel, ran up the few steps. Before he could ring the bell the door was opened by Colonel Thornton.
“Come in,” he exclaimed heartily. “I saw you from the drawing-room window, and, as Joshua has gone to ask Mrs. Winthrop if she can see me, I thought I would let you in and not keep you standing outside.”
“Thanks, Colonel.” Douglas followed the older man into the drawing-room. “Have you seen Miss Eleanor?”
“No. Here, don’t sit on that gilt-edged insecurity,” as Douglas pulled forward a parlor chair. “This sofa is big enough to hold us both. Tell me, are there any new developments in the Carew case?”
“Only that Brett is convinced Captain Lane is guilty, and, from what he said this morning, I should not be at all surprised to hear of the latter’s arrest.”
“Good Lord! you don’t say so. Poor, poor Cynthia. I greatly fear another shock will prove most dangerous in her present nervous condition.”
“Has Mrs. Winthrop consented to Miss Carew’s spending to-morrow at your house?”
“I don’t know yet——” Colonel Thornton stopped abruptly as the portières parted and a woman stepped into the room. Thinking it was Mrs. Winthrop, he started to rise, but it proved to be Annette, and he sank back in his seat.
“Bon jour, Messieurs,” Annette readjusted the portières with care, then walked with catlike quickness over to where the men were sitting. “Mistaire Hunter, you are investigating ze death of Senator Carew, n’est-ce pas, and you, Monsieur,” turning to Colonel Thornton, “are Madame Winthrop’s man of affairs?”