“You shall never regret this decision, Gerald, never—never!”
For fully an hour we sat together, our tea untouched, so preoccupied were we with the burden of our hearts; then, declaring that Aunt Hetty would miss her, she reluctantly rose. When I had put her cape round her shoulders, we went downstairs together, I having promised to accompany her in a fiacre as far as the Grand Hotel.
Just as we were about to step into the street, I encountered Kaye, who evidently wished to have a word with me. As he raised his hat, I noticed how intently he was examining my companion’s face; then he passed us and entered the wide hall leading to the stairs. A moment later, however, he turned suddenly, and said:
“Excuse me, Mr Ingram, might I speak with you for one moment? I see you are going out.”
“Certainly,” I answered; and after excusing myself to Edith I moved off a few paces with him.
The words he uttered were spoken in a whisper. They startled me:
“Have a care, Mr Ingram,” he said meaningly. “We know that woman!”