It had Vaughan's
collection in it, all bound together. But the page on which Swain's
were had been torn out."
Godfrey sat for a moment, staring at me spell-bound. Then he began
pacing up and down the study, like a tiger in its cage; up and down,
up and down.
"I'm bound to add," I went on finally, "that Hinman suggested a very
plausible reason for their disappearance."
"What was it?"
"He said they were probably destroyed by Vaughan himself, because of
his dislike of Swain. He said that would be characteristic of
Vaughan's form of insanity."
Godfrey took another turn up and down, then he stopped in front of my
chair.
"What did Miss Vaughan think of that explanation?" he asked.
"It didn't seem to impress her, but I don't remember that she made any
comment."
He stood a moment longer staring down at me, and I could feel the
intense concentration of his mind; then he ran his fingers impatiently
through his hair.
"I can't get it, Lester!" he said. "I can't get it. But I _will_ get
it! It's there! It's there, just out of reach." He shrugged his
shoulders and glanced at his watch. "I'm getting dippy," he added, in
another tone.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225