Danton stopped and brushed his eyes quickly. Then, with his tones filled with emotion, he said:
“The fact is, Nick, I’ve got a ‘hunch,’ as the racetrack people say. It never occurred to me till this very moment, but as sure as fate I believe that there is foul play somewhere. What you said about the coachman suggests it. Good God, Carter! do you suppose it could be possible that Mercedes did not leave home of her own free will?”
CHAPTER XII.
A STRANGE LEAVE-TAKING.
The detective strode on in silence for some distance before he replied, and then he said, very slowly:
“I have seen very little of your sister, Reginald, but what I have seen of her, and what I know of her character, assures me that she would never even consider the taking of a step of the kind you mention without good and sufficient reason. Furthermore, I feel sufficient personal interest in her to make it my duty to find her and ask her for her side of the story, so now, if you will come into the house and follow me to my room I will ask you to tell me all you know about the affair up to the present moment. You may tell me first what was the quarrel about?”
“You.”
“Eh? What is that?”
“We quarreled about you.”
“About me! Hmmph! I should like you to tell me the particulars of that quarrel, if you please.”
“The whole thing did not really amount to a row of pins.”