Winsloe hesitated for a moment, then, turning to me, said,—
“You’ll come too, won’t you?”
At first I excused myself, for I was anxious to find Eric, but presently I allowed myself to be persuaded, for truth to tell, I, too, was very fond of antiquities, and was therefore anxious to see this latest find.
We drove in a hansom along Regent Street, and then through several side streets, until presently we alighted before the door of a dark, respectable-looking house, into which Humphreys let us with his latchkey.
“Go on up,” he exclaimed, when we were in the hall. “You know your way, Ellice—the old rooms, second floor.”
And so while he held back in the hall looking at some cards that had been left, I climbed the broad old-fashioned stairs with Winsloe.
At the first landing my companion held back for me to go on before, laughing, and saying,—
“Go straight on—the room right before you,” and compelling me to ascend first, he followed.
Suddenly I heard men’s voices raised in angry altercation, apparently proceeding from another room, and what was more, I was struck by a distinct belief that one voice was Eric’s. Yet surely that could not be possible.
“I defy you!” I heard the voice cry. “Say no more. You hear! You may kill me, but I defy you!”