“I saw Mr. Ellison come down the stairs. His valet met him at the bottom of the steps and whispered something to him. Then Mr. Ellison told him to take a man into a room where he could see him alone, while he himself came into this room to excuse himself to the bride.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Sanborn, “that’s what he did, saying that he would not delay the bride but a minute.”
“Then,” said Patsy, “I saw the valet come to the door of this room for him and take him to meet the stranger.”
“A stranger?” said Nick, sharply.
“Anyhow,” said Patsy, “he didn’t look like a guest, for he wasn’t rigged for it, and he had on a long cape coat. But, anyhow, it wasn’t a minute after they went in before the man in the big cape coat came out and was taken downstairs by the valet.”
“Did you see Mr. Ellison come out of that room?” asked Nick.
“No,” replied Patsy, “I did not.”
Chick, who had been standing within hearing, now said:
“I saw such a man go out of the door below.”
“Mr. Ellison said,” put in Mr. Sanborn, “when he came into this room to ask my daughter to wait a moment, that he was called to a matter of immense personal importance.”