And now, there
stood Lady Janet, unaccustomed to have her wishes disregarded by
anybody, with her band extended, waiting for the card!
What was to be done? The one way out of the difficulty appeared
to be to submit for the moment. If he succeeded in discovering
the missing woman, he could easily take care that she should be
subjected to no needless indignity. If she contrived to slip into
the house in his absence, he could provide against that
contingency by sending a second card privately to the police
station, forbidding the officer to stir in the affair until he
had received further orders. Julian made one stipulation only
before he handed his card to his aunt.
"You will not use this, I am sure, without positive and pressing
necessity," he said. "But I must make one condition. Promise me
to keep my plan for communicating with the police a strict
secret--"
"A strict secret from Grace?" interposed Lady Janet. (Julian
bowed.) "Do you suppose I want to frighten her? Do you think I
have not had anxiety enough about her already? Of course I shall
keep it a secret from Grace!"
Re-assured on this point, Julian hastened out into the grounds.
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