For a few seconds she sat silent, then she answered in a low voice broken by emotion. “Before I can answer that we must learn the truth.”
My heart gave a great leap. There was hope for me.
“I will find out,” I declared, “whatever the cost.”
“But, Mr. Yelverton, please be careful,” she said. “Dr. Feng is terribly apprehensive. He evidently thinks you are in great danger and doesn’t want me to see you.”
“But why should he be?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I cannot make him out at all. Sometimes I think he knows more than he will ever admit about Stanley.”
But I cared nothing for Feng. My heart was singing. Thelma’s words acted as a spur to my decision to continue my investigations. I determined once more and for all to play for the biggest stake. If I lost I must accept my fate philosophically. If I won—!
CHAPTER XVII
PLOT AND COUNTER-PLOT
Next day, Feng having left for Edinburgh to visit some friends, Thelma and I traveled to London together. At King’s Cross I saw her into a taxi, for she was going to Highgate to spend a few days with a girl cousin, and myself went across to Russell Square.
Mrs. Chapman was greatly excited at my return, and was eager to know exactly what had happened, for already Hensman had been round and told her of my accident.