Dr. Whitaker rose and took his hat. "Beg pardon, sir," said Pod to his master, "but here's a letter which Molly the house-maid gave me just now. She found it in Miss Deane's room while sweeping behind the dressing-table. As the letter is addressed to you, I thought I had better let you have it."
Kelvin took the letter with hands that trembled a little, and looked first of all at the direction, and then at the mode in which the letter had been opened. Dr. Whitaker came forward to shake hands. "Don't go for a minute or two," said Kelvin. "There is something else I want to say to you."
Dr. Whitaker sat down again, and Kelvin drew out the letter and glanced first of all at the signature. He started when he saw the name, and then he ran his eye quickly over the contents; last of all he read the letter through, slowly and carefully.
"This is dated nearly a month ago," he said, "and yet I have never seen it till to-day. It has been kept purposely from me. By what a web of treachery and deceit am I enmeshed! It is horrible--horrible!" He sat for a little while in silence, holding the letter in his hand, his eyes bent sadly on the floor. No one spoke.
"Whitaker," he said at last, turning abruptly on the doctor, "I want to go to Stammars."
"To Stammars! When?"
"Now--at once."
"Impossible! I would not answer for the consequences of such a mad act."
"Whatever the consequences may be, I must go, and at once. Piper, run to the 'King's Head,' and order a brougham to be here in ten minutes from now." Pod was off like a shot.
"Kelvin, you must be crazy to do this thing."