The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-06-16
CHAPTER XII

nine o'clock; but, tired as ! was,
I awoke at a quarter to eight, ana
after trying in vain to 60 back TO
sleep, presently threw in my hand
and began to get up.
My state of mind was uneasy.
could not reach my lady, be-
cause had given her back the key
of her suite. Yet, since ! had her
chemise, my shirt must be IN her
bedroom. II she found it, well and
good. But if some servant found
it -.
In fact I need not have worried,
for about ten minutes to nine a man
servant came to my room, bearing a
note and parcel addressed to me.
"From his lordship, sir" he said,
and bowed himself out.
With starting eyes, read the fol-
lowing words:
have the honor to return you the shirt
which you dropped this morning on ieav-
ing my daughters suite. :. ,,.n.
Perhaps you will make It convenient
to leave the Castle at once. -.
remember that I stared at the
paper as though it belonged to some
dream. Then I sat down and put
my head in my hands. And then l
stood up again, because something
had to be done.
AS made for the door, this was
opened and Winter came into the
room.
"Find Mr.. Parish" I said: "and
ask him to come here at once"
AS it was, I was more than half
dressed, and as got into my jack
ct, the Englishman entered the
room.
Parish" I said, chow soon can
/ see her Grace?"
perhaps at ten, sir: but certain
ly not before that"
glanced at my watch. The time
was five minutes past nine.
every well, must see the Count.
/ don't think he'll want to receive
me, but if you can get hold Of Ber-
tram, perhaps you can bring it of. "
''I'll manage it, sir" said Parish.
-'Do you wish to see him at once?"
Immediately"
''Then come with me, sir" said
Parish. 81 think I know where he
u.s."
I thrust the note into my pocket
and left the ROOM ~ aHa
The respect with which Parish
was treated by the servants Of Brief
was very nearly as deep as that
they were pleased to accord to the
Duchess herself, and before two
minutes had passed I was ushered
unannounced into an elegant libra
ny.
AS the door closed behind me
'What does this mean?" said the
Count, getting up to his feet.
I answered him slowly enough.
"It MEANS" I said, shat we are
to clear the air."
''I'll see about that" said the
man, and made straight for the bell.
II strongly advise you," ! said,
mot to try to have me removed.
If you do, you will force my hand:
and so, Lord Ferdinand Virgil, cut
your throat.
I saw the shaft 60 home. My
use of his proper title hit him be-
meath the heart. II more revela-
tons were coming, better that they
should come whilst we were alone.
For all that, his eyes were burning
-. was Richard Exon, and not
the Duchess of Whelp.
AS q servant answered his sum-
mons, he turned on his heel /.
watched him curiously.
There was a moments silence.
Then
''Your lordship rang?" said the
servant.
The other spoke over his shoulder.
eyes," he said thickly. "Has-has
Mr.. Percy returned?"
"Not yet, my lord" ~
''Desire him to come here the
moment he enters the house,"
every good, my lord," said the
man, and made himself scarce.
AS the door closed behind him
II do not think" I said, ''that
your son is going to come back"
Lord Ferdinand started about.
"My son? Is this blackmail?"
Its not even bluff" said I, "but
listen to me. / say I have reason to
think that your son is not coming
back. In view of what I told him
last night, I think he will find it
convenient to disappear"
The man was staring as though
were not of his world.
"Of what you told him? Who are
your" ~
The question famed.
''I'm a plain-clothes man." said
: I, land I'm working for Scotland
Yard
watched the blood flow out OF
the fellows face =.
At length he moistened his lips.
''Does the Duchess know this?''
he said.
''No." said I. Nobody knows
except the Austrian police"
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