After a tight grip of the hands the men parted, and Gaunt went straight to his wife’s room, for he felt sure that she had not gone to bed.
In fact Lady Mildred had been anxiously awaiting him for she wished to talk over with him the scheme which had been unfolded in her presence, but at the sight of his white face she quickly determined to postpone the discussion. Gaunt was surprised at her silence upon the subject, but their love was a new and very precious thing, and as they sat before the fire his indecision vanished.
They were both supremely happy, and their eyes would meet, brimming over with the love that they found so strangely sweet. And Gaunt knew that he would never have the courage to jeopardize all that made life worth the living.
Her upbringing was such a one as would cause her to regard with horror the shedding of blood, and she would not be able to understand how it had happened. Then, too, there were such sordid surroundings, which it would be impossible for him to explain.
When she left him he sat there for a while, and his thoughts were not pleasant, for it was impossible to conceal from himself that he was not honestly carrying out his vow. Drake’s words had disturbed him, and he found it difficult to quiet his awakened conscience.
At last he went to his dressing-room and threw off his coat, but his actions were very slow, and now and then he would stop and stand still with a frown on his face.
When he had finished undressing a sudden impulse seized him, and he sank on to his knees beside the bed. Words would not come and still he did not move. His eyes were closed, and his quick breathing could be heard.
The door opened quietly, and Lady Mildred stood in the doorway, a look of surprise springing to her face. But she uttered no word, and left as silently as she had entered, and Gaunt wrestled with himself.
CHAPTER XXIX
Baron De Croiseuil had half expected to hear from Gaunt, for he imagined that the papers which he had left with Sir Keith Hamilton might have caused that gentleman to communicate with the millionaire, with the idea of persuading him into silence. A couple of days passed and it was very evident that something must be done without delay, and the Baron reluctantly decided to cause an application to be made at Bow Street to secure a warrant for Gaunt’s arrest. By this time numerous documents had arrived from Brussels, and among them were affidavits sufficiently strong to make out a prima facie case of murder. There were numberless ex-Congo officials in Belgium who would be prepared to swear to anything for a consideration, for their morals were warped, and their greed for gold insatiable.