Then her ladyship had lied to me, for she had said they had arrived in London on the morning of the day when the unknown woman in black had called. Beryl had told the truth, and her words were proved by the statement of Bob Raymond that he had seen her pass along Rowan Road.
Were they acquaintances? As I reflected upon that problem one fact alone stood out above all others. If I had been unknown to Wynd and that scoundrel Tattersett, how was it that they were enabled to give every detail regarding myself in their application for the marriage licence? How, indeed, did they know that I was acting as Bob’s locum tenens? Or how was the Tempter so well aware of my penury?
No. Now that my friend had betrayed himself, I felt convinced that he knew something of the extraordinary plot in which I had become so hopelessly involved.
“The day before yesterday,” I said, looking her straight in the face, “you came to Hammersmith to try to find me.”
She started quickly, but in an instant recovered herself.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I walked through Rowan Road, expecting to find your plate on one of the doors, but could not.”
“I have no plate,” I answered. “When I lived there I was assistant to my friend. Doctor Raymond.”
“Raymond!” she exclaimed. “Oh yes, I remember I saw his name; but I was looking for yours.”
“You wished to see me?”
“Yes; I was not well,” she faltered.