"Nothing but a desire to—to——"
"I understand perfectly," said Lawrence.
As they descended, Lawrence heard steps on the stairs behind them. They were not yet, then, out of danger.
"Very odd," said Mr. Cassilis. "Coming up I heard a woman's voice. Now it seems as if there were a woman's feet."
"Nerves, perhaps," said Colquhoun. The steps above them stopped. "I hear nothing."
"Nor do I. Nerves—ah, yes—nerves."
Mr. Cassilis turned to the left, Colquhoun with him. Behind them he saw the cloaked and hooded figure of Victoria Cassilis. At the Burlington Gardens end a cab was waiting. Near the horse's head stood a woman's figure which Lawrence thought he knew. As they passed her this woman, whoever she was, covered her face with a handkerchief. And at the same moment the cab drove by rapidly. Gabriel Cassilis saw neither woman nor cab. He was too happy to notice anything. There was nothing in it; nothing at all except mischievous gossip. And he had laid the Ghost.
"Dear me!" he said to himself presently, "I forgot to ask about the Secret. But of course there is none. How should there be?"
Next morning there came another letter.
"You have been fooled worse than ever," it said. "Your wife was in Mr. Colquhoun's chambers the whole time that you were there. She came down the stairs after you; she passed through the gate, almost touching you, and she drove past you in a hansom cab. I know the number, and will give it to you when the time comes. Mr. Colquhoun lied to you. How long? How long?"