CHAPTER XXII.
DISCLOSES A SCHEME.
At noon next day, while Ansell was lying lazily in bed in the Palace Hotel reading the Matin, a page entered with a letter.
He tore it open, and found that it was dated from the railway buffet at Calais-Maritime, and read:
“Dear Ralph,—Impossible to send oof. Lady Michelcoombe squeezed dry. Husband knows. So lie low.—Ted.”
He crushed the letter in his hand with an imprecation. His mine of wealth had suddenly become exhausted.
From the address it was plain that Ted Patten was flying from England. Lord Michelcoombe had discovered the truth. Probably his wife had confessed, and explained how she had been trapped and money extracted from her. Well he knew that the penalty for his offence was twenty years’ penal servitude.
It was all very well for Ted to advise him to “lie low,” but that was impossible without ample funds. The “crook” who is big enough to effect a big coup can go into safe retirement for years if necessary. But to the man who is penniless that is impossible.
He rose and dressed even more carefully than usual. Afterwards he took his déjeuner in the big salle-à-manger and drank half a bottle of Krug with it. Like all men of his class, he was fastidious over his food and wines. The afternoon he spent idling in the casino, and that night he again visited the private gaming house with his two hundred francs, or eight pounds, in his pocket.