第58章

"The people at the police station close by," pursued Lady Janet, "have instructions to send an experienced man, in plain clothes, to any address indicated on your card the moment they receive it.That is what you told me.For Grace's protection, I want your card before you leave us."It was impossible for Julian to mention the reasons which now forbade him to make use of his own precautions--in the very face of the emergency which they had been especially intended to meet.How could he declare the true Grace Roseberry to be mad? How could he give the true Grace Roseberry into custody? On the other hand, he had personally pledged himself (when the circumstances appeared to require it) to place the means of legal protection from insult and annoyance at his aunt's disposal.And now, there stood Lady Janet, unaccustomed to have her wishes disregarded by anybody, with her band extended, waiting for the card!

What was to be done? The one way out of the difficulty appeared to be to submit for the moment.If he succeeded in discovering the missing woman, he could easily take care that she should be subjected to no needless indignity.If she contrived to slip into the house in his absence, he could provide against that contingency by sending a second card privately to the police station, forbidding the officer to stir in the affair until he had received further orders.Julian made one stipulation only before he handed his card to his aunt.

"You will not use this, I am sure, without positive and pressing necessity," he said."But I must make one condition.Promise me to keep my plan for communicating with the police a strict secret--""A strict secret from Grace?" interposed Lady Janet.(Julian bowed.) "Do you suppose I want to frighten her? Do you think I have not had anxiety enough about her already? Of course I shall keep it a secret from Grace!"Re-assured on this point, Julian hastened out into the grounds.As soon as his back was turned Lady Janet lifted the gold pencil-case which hung at her watch-chain, and wrote on her nephew's card (for the information of the officer in plain clothes), " You are wanted at Mablethorpe House." This done, she put the card into the old-fashioned pocket of her dress, and returned to the dining-room.

Grace was waiting, in obedience to the instructions which she had received.

For the first moment or two not a word was spoken on either side.Now that she was alone with her adopted daughter, a certain coldness and hardness began to show itself in Lady Janet's manner.The discovery that she had made on opening the drawing-room door still hung on her mind.Julian had certainly convinced her that she had misinterpreted what she had seen; but he had convinced her against her will.She had found Mercy deeply agitated; suspiciously silent.Julian might be innocent, she admitted--there was no accounting for the vagaries of men.But the case of Mercy was altogether different.Women did not find themselves in the arms of men without knowing what they were about.Acquitting Julian, Lady Janet declined to acquit Mercy."There is some secret understanding between them," thought the old lady, "and she's to blame; the women always are!"Mercy still waited to be spoken to; pale and quiet, silent and submissive.Lady Janet--in a highly uncertain state of temper--was obliged to begin.

"My dear!" she called out, sharply.

"Yes, Lady Janet."

"How much longer are you going to sit there with your mouth shut up and your eyes on the carpet? Have you no opinion to offer on this alarming state of things? You heard what the man said to Julian--I saw you listening.Are you horribly frightened?""No, Lady Janet."

"Not even nervous?"

"No, Lady Janet."

"Ha! I should hardly have given you credit for so much courage after my experience of you a week ago.I congratulate you on your recovery.""Thank you, Lady Janet."