I took it in silence and wrung it hard. The scales had fallen from my eyes and I felt thoroughly ashamed of my lack of faith. I had ignored my real friend and had put my trust in the scoundrel who had planned, happily in vain, to send Thelma and myself to a horrible death. At that moment my confidence in my knowledge of men, on which I had been apt to pride myself in bygone days, sank to zero.
Feng was the first to break the silence.
“By jove, Yelverton,” he said, “I’m glad to see you all right again. You’ve had an infernally narrow squeak of it. And it was all my fault. I ought to have been more wary.”
“Your fault!” I stammered. “How?”
“Well, your narrow escape from being burned to death with Thelma, was due in part to me. Owing to my belief in my own foresight I made a big error of judgment.”
“How? I don’t understand. All I know is that Thelma and I were entrapped by your friend Humphreys in that house in Heathermoor Gardens. A most diabolical plot was laid for us both. What happened?”
“Then you recollect it all—eh? Well, that’s an excellent sign,” he said. “You both escaped death by a hair’s breath. The damnable plot was well devised and the plotters never dreamed for an instant that it could fail. Every precaution had been taken, even to the cutting of the wires of the fire-alarm outside Hampstead Station! Yes, you can both thank Providence that you are alive today. But, do rest, my dear fellow,” he added. “You must not tax your brains too quickly. In an hour’s time I’ll tell you more. Till then, I’ll leave you both together. But remember, your conversation must not concern the affair in the least. I forbid it, Thelma! Please recollect that,” he added very seriously.
“Very well,” she said. “We’ll go for a stroll down to the Casino and back,” and I rose and accompanied her.
Thelma chatted as we strolled along. But in obedience to Doctor Feng she would not refer to what had passed. For my own part I felt utterly mystified. Where was Stanley Audley? Why was Feng my friend and Humphreys’ enemy? What was Thelma doing here away from her husband? How had we been saved? These and a hundred other puzzling questions darted through my mind, and I fear my attempts at conversation were poor and spiritless.
But one thing she told me roused my keen interest.