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“Of course we want you to be there. Why, we shouldn’t feel married if you weren’t there! We’ll put the wedding off for a day or two.”

She tried to speak lightly and, turning, left the room.

“There!” exclaimed Dr. Maclean. “D’you see that girl meeting a married man in a wood at night? She’s the most self-possessed, dignified little lassie I’ve ever met! Not that she is lacking in feeling. She’s devoted now, to that man, and,” he went on, speaking with a good deal of emotion, “I hope to God she will never know of this horrible, if it was not so serious I should say this ridiculous, business.”

Suddenly the telephone bell on his table rang. He took up the receiver.

“I said I was not to be disturbed”—and then in a very different voice—“Garlett?”

“Has the man who called on me this morning gone? I feel I must see you.... Yes, I’m still at the office. Where else should I be?... Somehow the horror of it all seems to grow and grow on me.... For the first time in my life I feel as if I don’t know what I ought to do!”

The doctor felt dismayed. It was clear that the invisible speaker was painfully excited and overwrought.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” he called back soothingly. “My interview with Mr. Kentworthy has been quite satisfactory, and I’m going up to London to-night to see the people concerned to-morrow morning. Best not say too much over the telephone, my dear fellow. Bad breaks will come in business, as we all know.”

He hung up the receiver.

“Garlett’s thoroughly rattled!” he exclaimed. “D’you see any objection to his coming up with us to-night and going to the Home Office to-morrow morning?”

The other hesitated.

“Frankly, I shouldn’t advise that. If you, as Mrs. Garlett’s medical attendant, can convince my chiefs that she died a natural death, the whole matter will be dropped.”

“I understand that, and I’ll make him follow your advice,” said the doctor. “But what I can’t make out—what I would 76give a good deal to know—I suppose you know and won’t tell me?—is what started this damnable inquiry?”

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