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through which she had passed。
She had been ill for some weeks； but her mother； fussily
incompetent at most times； was always at her best when sickness
came； and she had nursed her daughter devotedly and successfully。
As soon as possible they had come to this quiet little place where
people； busy with their own affairs and the important progress of
the town； had scarcely heard of what the newspapers of the day
called 〃The Great Chobham Sensation。〃
But； in fact； very much to Rupert's relief； comparatively little
had been made known publicly； and the whole affair had attracted
wonderfully little attention。
The one public proceeding had been the inquest of Deede Dawson； and
that the coroner； at the request of the police eagerly searching for
Walter Dunsmore； had made as brief and formal as possible。 Under his
direction the jury had returned a verdict of 〃justifiable homicide；〃
and Ella's illness had had at least one good result of making it
impossible for her to attend to give her evidence in person。
At a trial； of course； everything would have had to be told in full；
but both Allen； Deede Dawson's accomplice； and Walter Dunsmore； his
instigator and employer； had vanished utterly。
For Walter the search was very hot； but so far entirely without
result。 Now could Allen be found。 He was identified with a fair
degree of certainty as an old criminal well known to the authorities；
and it was thought almost certain that he had had previous dealings
with Deede Dawson； and knew enough about him to be able to force
himself into Bittermeads。
Of the actual plot in operation there he most likely knew little
or nothing； but probably Deede Dawson thought he might be useful；
and the store of silver found in the attic that Ella had been
employed in packing ready for removal was identified as part of
the plunder from a recent burglary in a northern town。
It was thought； therefore； that both Allen and Deede Dawson might
have been concerned in that affair； that Deede Dawson had managed
to secure the greater share of the booty； and that Allen； on the
night when Rupert found him breaking into Bittermeads； was
endeavouring to get hold of the silver for himself。
But the actual facts are not likely now ever to be known； for from
that day to this nothing has been heard of Allen。 His old haunts
know him no more； and to his record； carefully preserved at Scotland
Yard； there have been no recent additions。
One theory is that Deede Dawson； finding him troublesome； took
effectual steps to dispose of him。 Another is that Deede Dawson
got him away by either bribes or threats； and that； not knowing
of Deede Dawson's death； he does not venture to return。
In any case； he was a commonplace criminal； and his fate is of
little interest to any one but himself。
It was Walter for whom the police hunted with diligence and effort；
but with a total lack of success； so that they began to think at
the end of three months that he must somehow have succeeded in
making his way out of the country。
During the first portion of this time Rupert had been very busy
with a great many things that needed his attention。 And then Lord
Chobham； his health affected by the crimes and treachery of a
kinsman whom he had known and trusted as he had known and trusted
Walter； was attacked by acute bronchitis which affected his heart
and carried him off within the week。 The title and estates passed；
therefore； to General Dunsmore； and Rupert became the Honourable
Rupert Dunsmore and the direct heir。 All this meant for him a great
deal more to see to and arrange； for the health of the new Lord
Chobham had also been affected and he left practically everything
in his son's hands； so that； except for the letters which came
regularly but had been often written in great haste； Ella knew and
heard little of Rupert。
But today he was to come； for everything was finally in order； and；
though this she did not know till later； Walter Dunsmore had at
last been discovered； dead from poison self…administered； in a
wretched lodging in an East End slum。 Rupert had been called to
identify the body and he had been able to arrange it so that very
little was said at the inquest； where the customary verdict of
〃Suicide during temporary insanity〃 was duly returned by a quite
uninterested jury。
That the last had been heard of the tragedy that had so nearly
overwhelmed his life； Rupert was able now to feel fairly well
assured； and it was therefore in a mood more cheerful than he had
known of late that he started on his journey to Ella's new residence。
He had sent a wire to confirm his letter； and it was in a mood that
was more than a little nervous that she busied herself with her
preparations。
She chose her very simplest gown； and when there was absolutely
nothing more to do she went into their little sitting…room to
wait alone by the fire she had built up there； for it was winter
now and today was cold and inclined to be stormy。
Rupert had not said exactly when she was to expect him； and she sat
for a long time by the fire； starting at every sound and imagining
at every moment that she heard the front…door bell ring。
〃I shall not let him feel himself bound；〃 she said to herself with
great decision。 〃I shall tell him I hope we shall always be friends
but that's all； and if he wants anything more； I shall say No。 But
most likely he won't say a word about all that nonsense； it would
be silly to take seriously what he said … there。〃
To Ella； now； Bittermeads was always 〃there；〃 and though she told
herself several times that probably Rupert had not the least idea
of repeating what he had said to her … there … and that most likely
he was coming today merely to make a friendly call； and that it
would never do for either of them to think again of what they had
said when they were both so excited and overwrought； yet in her
heart she knew a great deal better than all that。
But she said to herself very often：
〃Anyhow； I shall certainly refuse him。〃
And on this point her mind was irrevocably made up since； after all；
whether Rupert would accept refusal or not would still remain
entirely for him to decide。
At half…past three she heard the garden…gate creak； and when she
ran to the window to peep； she saw with a kind of chill surprise
that there was a stranger coming through。
〃Some one he's sent；〃 she said to herself。 〃He doesn't want to
come himself and so he has sent some one else instead。 I am glad。〃
Having said this and repeated again the last three words； and having
gulped down a sob … presumably of joy … that unexpectedly fluttered
into her throat； she went quickly to open the door。
The newly…arrived stranger smiled at her as she showed herself but
did not speak。 He was a man of middle height； quite young； and
wrapped in a big； loose overcoat that very completely hid his figure。
His face； clean…shaven； showed clear； strongly…marked well…shaped
features with a firm mouth round which at this moment played a very
gentle and winning smile； a square…cut chin； and extremely bright；
clear kindly eyes that were just now smiling too。
When he took off his h