but I wish Joe were here himself!" she cried with startling emphasis. "He should speak, even if it brought ruin amongst us." But the doctor was a man not to be moved by so simple a thing as a woman's unreasoning emotion. "Yes, the Yellow Domino would be very welcome just now," he allowed, with grim decision. "That he is not here is the most damning fact of all," Hartley slowly observed. "He fled when he saw our father fall."[81] [81] "But he shall come back," Edith vehemently declared. "If he does, I shall need no further proof of his innocence," said Uncle Joe. "Nor I, so that he comes to-night," returned the doctor. "Then be satisfied, for here he is," I exclaimed from my retreat; and drawing the mask over my face, and hastily enveloping myself in the yellow domino, I stepped forth into full view of the crowd around the table. [82] [82] V. THE YELLOW DOMINO. A mingled sound of shrieks and exclamations greeted me. "Joe!" cried Edith, bounding forward. But I waved her back, and turned with a severe gesture toward Hartley Benson. "What are your reasons," I demanded, "for thinking the poisoning that has taken place here was the work of the Yellow Domino?" "Do you ask me?" he retorted, after a moment's pause, during which my voice echoed through the room, waking strange gleams of doubt on the faces of more than one person present. "You wish to dare me, then?" he hissed, coming a step nearer. "I wish to know what the Yellow Domino has done that you or any one should consider him as responsible for the
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