The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-20


tably- "One OF miner"
mo; not one OF yours
Whose then? Did the housekeeper
known"
The housekeepers's report OF Mrs Cath
ericks desire 10 conceal her visit TO
Blackwater Park from Sir Percival's
knowledge recurred 10 my memory the
moment he put that last question. and
half doubted the discretion OF Answering
II. But. I'm my anxiety to quiet the gener-
al alarm, I had thoughtlessly advanced
too far 10 draw back. except at the risk
OF exciting suspicion which might only
make matters worse. There was nothing
for IL but to answer at once. without ref
Greene to results.
Yes" said. The housekeeper knew
She told me II was Mrs. catherinks
dog
Sir Perc.val had hitherto remained at
the inner end OF the boat-house with
Count Fosco. while / spoke TO him from
the door. But the instant Mrs. Cathe-
rick's name passed my lips, he pushed by
the Count roughly. and placed himself
face to face with me. under the open day
light
How came the housekeeper 10 know II
was Mrs. Catherick's dog7" he asked.
ixing his eye on mine with frowning in
terest and attention which half angered.
half startled me-
She knew IT," said. quietly. because
Brought IL with her? Where did she
bring II with herr"
ITO this house
What the devil did Mrs. Catherick
want at this house?"
The manner in which he put the ques-
tion was even more offensive than the
language in which he expressed H. 7
marked my sense OF his want OF common
politeness by silently turning away from
him.
Just as moved, the Counts persuasive
hand was laid on his shoulder, and the
Counts melhnuous voice interposed TO
quiet him.
MY dear Percival!-gently-gentl
Sir Percival looked round in his angri-
est manner The Count only smiled, and
repeated the soothing application.
Gently. my good friend-gently.'
Sir Percival hesitated-followed me
few steps-and. 10 my great surprise, Of
fered me an apology.
II beg your pardon. Miss Haicombe."
he said. II have been out of order late-
ly; and am afraid ! am little irritable.
But ] should like to know what Mrs.
Catherick could possibly want here. When
did she come? Was the housekeeper the
only person who saw her?''
The only person., ! answered. $50 far
as know"
The Count intersposed again.
I'm that case why not question the
cival, to the fountain-head OF information
at once?"
quite right" said Sir Percival "of
course the housekeeper Is the first person
TO question. Excessively stupid OF me not
TO see IL myself" With those words, he
instantly left us to return To the house
The motive OF the Counts interference.
which had puzzled me at first, betrayed
itself when Sir Percival's back was turn
ed. lie had host of questions 10 put TO
me about Mrs. Catherick and the cause
OF her visit to Blackwater Park which
he could scarcely have asked In his
friends presence. ] made my answers as
short as ! civilly could--for I had al
ready determined to check the least ap-
proach 10 any exchanging OF condolences
between Count Fosco and myself. Laura,
however. unconsciously helped him to ex-
tract all my information. by making in
quiries herself. which left me no alterna-
tive but TO reply to her, or TO appear In
the very unenviable and very false char
acter of depository of Sir Percivals se-
crets. The end of IL was, that. in about
ten minutes time. the Count knew as
much as knew of Mrs. Catherick and
OF the events which have so strangely
connected us with her daughter. Anne,
from the time when Hartright met with
her TO this day
The effect OF my Information on him
was. I'm one respect. curious enough.
Intimately as he knows Sir Percival.
and closely as he appears to be associated
with Sir Percivafs private affairs in
general, he is certainly "a far as I am
from knowing anything of the true story
OF Anne Catherick. The unsolved mys-
tery In connection with this unhappy
woman is now rendered doubly suspi-
cious, In my eyes. by the absolute con-
viction which ] feel that the clew TO II
has been hidden by Sir Percival from the
most intimate friend he has In the world.
IT was impossible To mistake the eager
curiosity OF the Counts look and manner
while he drank In greedily every word
that fell from my lips There are many
kinds OF curiosity. I know-but there Is
no misinterpreting the curiosity OF blank
surprise; II I ever saw IL In my life,
saw IL In the Counts face
ITO be continued)