Suddenly, without any warning, the path gave a sharp turn and emerged into an open space close to the house. It was a moonlit night and the space was clearly lit. Bobby had stepped full into the moonlight before he could stop himself.
At the same moment a woman’s figure came round the corner of the house. She was treading very softly, glancing from side to side with – or so it seemed to the watching Bobby – the nervous alertness of a hunted animal. Suddenly she stopped dead and stood, swaying as though she would fall.
Bobby rushed forward and caught her. Her lips were white and it seemed to him that never had he seen such an awful fear on any human countenance.
‘It’s all right,’ he said reassuringly in a very low voice. ‘It’s quite all right.’ The girl, for she was little more, moaned faintly, her eyelids half closed.
‘I’m so frightened,’ she murmured. ‘I’m so terribly frightened.’ ‘What’s the matter?’ said Bobby.
The girl only shook her head and repeated faintly: ‘I’m so frightened. I’m so horribly frightened.’ Suddenly some sound seemed to come to her ears. She sprang upright, away from Bobby. Then she turned to him.
‘Go away,’ she said. ‘Go away at once.’ ‘I want to help you,’ said Bobby.
‘Do you?’ She looked at him for a minute or two, a strange searching and moving glance. It was as though she explored his soul.
Then she shook her head.
‘No one can help me.’ ‘I can,’ said Bobby. ‘I’d do anything. Tell me what it is that frightens you so.’ She shook her head.
‘Not now. Oh! quick – they’re coming! You can’t help me unless you go now. At once – at once.’ Bobby yielded to her urgency.
With a whispered: ‘I’m at the Anglers’ Arms,’ he plunged back along the path. The last he saw of her was an urgent gesture bidding him hurry.
Suddenly he heard footsteps on the path in front of him.
Someone was coming along the path from the little door.
Bobby plunged abruptly into the bushes at the side of the path.
He had not been mistaken. A man was coming along the path. He passed close to Bobby but it was too dark for the young man to see his face.
When he had passed, Bobby resumed his retreat. He felt that he could do nothing more that night.
Anyway, his head was in a whirl.
For he had recognized the girl – recognized her beyond any possible doubt.
She was the original of the photograph which had so mysteriously disappeared.
CHAPTER 16 Bobby Becomes a Solicitor
‘Mr Hawkins?’ ‘Yes,’ said Bobby, his voice slightly muffled owing to a large mouthful of bacon and eggs.
‘You’re wanted on the telephone.’ Bobby took a hasty gulp of coffee, wiped his mouth and rose.
The telephone was in a small dark passage. He took up the receiver..
‘Hullo,’ said Frankie’s voice.
‘Hullo, Frankie,’ said Bobby incautiously.
‘This is Lady Frances Derwent speaking,’ said the voice coldly. ‘Is that Hawkins?’ ‘Yes, m’lady.’ ‘I shall want the car at ten o’clock to take me up to London.’ ‘Very good, your ladyship.’ Bobby replaced the receiver.
‘When does one say, “my lady”, and when does one say, “your ladyship”?’ he cogitated. ‘I ought to know, but I don’t.
It’s the sort of thing that will lead a real chauffeur or butler to catch me out.’ At the other end, Frankie hung up the receiver and turned to Roger Bassingtonffrench.
‘It’s a nuisance,’ she observed lightly, ‘to have to go up to London today. All owing to Father’s fuss.’ ‘Still,’ said Roger, ‘you’ll be back this evening?’ ‘Oh, yes!’ ‘I’d half thought of asking you if you’d give me a lift to town,’ said Roger carelessly.
Frankie paused for an infinitesimal second before her answer – given with an apparent readiness.
‘Why, of course,’ she said.
‘But on second thoughts I don’t think I will go up today,’ went on Roger. ‘Henry’s looking even odder than usual.
Somehow I don’t very much like leaving Sylvia alone with him.’ ‘I know,’ said Frankie.
‘Are you driving yourself?’ asked Roger casually as they moved away from the telephone.