Violet, when she heard that Fulk was up, came out of her room and held out her hand. She was still dreadfully pale; but Fulk thought he had never seen a more beautiful face. She thanked him with tears in her eyes; and Fulk in vain tried to make her think that he had done nothing. “I was up yesterday,” she said, “but I could not go till you were better. Now, will you please take me back to the asylum?”
“The asylum?” said Fulk, in amazement.
“Yes; Mr Theodore will be anxious about me. I sent a message yesterday to him, but I have had no reply.”
“Theodore Marese is dead,” said Fulk, quietly. “I trust you have had nothing to do with him?”
“Dead!” Violet shuddered. “But I must go to the asylum; perhaps Aymer has returned.”
“Aymer—what Aymer?”
An explanation followed, which will be readily understood. It was long before Violet could believe him; till at last his reiterated statements, and the little incidents he related, shook her incredulity. Even then she was partially doubtful, till Fulk chanced to look at the paper on the table. There was an advertisement in large type—“Escaped from the Asylum, Fulk Lechester and Aymer Malet.” She could no longer doubt.
“How miserably I have been deceived,” she said, and burst into tears.
Fulk was greatly shocked.
“You see now that I must hasten away,” he said. “Doubtless this great catastrophe has occupied men’s minds, and interfered to prevent a strict search; but now I have found you it is a folly to remain here. My rendezvous with Aymer is at The Place, World’s End. We will go to World’s End at once.”