Chapter VI. Suspicions - Page 2

like a King's house, when the mistress is a Princess!'

'A Princess!' That was it. The idea seemed to satisfy my mind, and to bring back in a wave of light the first moment when she swept across my vision at the ball in Belgrave Square. A queenly figure! tall and slim, bending, swaying, undulating as the lily or the lotus. Clad in a flowing gown of some filmy black material shot with gold. For ornament in her hair she wore an old Egyptian jewel, a tiny crystal disc, set between rising plumes carved in lapis lazuli. On her wrist was a broad bangle or bracelet of antique work, in the shape of a pair of spreading wings wrought in gold, with the feathers made of coloured gems. For all her gracious bearing toward me, when our hostess introduced me, I was then afraid of her. It was only when later, at the picnic on the river, I had come to realize her sweet and gentle nature, that my awe changed to something else.

For a while she sat, making some notes or memoranda. Then putting them away, she sent for the faithful servants. I thought that she had better have this interview alone, and so left her. When I came back there were traces of tears in her eyes.

The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and infinitely more painful. Late in the afternoon Sergeant Daw came into the study where I was sitting. After closing the door carefully and looking all round the room to make certain that we were alone, he came close to me.

'What is it?' I asked him. 'I see you wish to speak to me privately.'

'Quite so, sir! May I speak in absolute confidence?'

'Of course you may. In anything that is for the good of Miss Trelawny--and of course of Mr. Trelawny--you may be perfectly frank. I take it that we both want to serve them to the best of our powers.' He hesitated before replying:

'Of course you know that I have my duty to do; and I think you know me well enough to know that I will do it. I am a policeman, a detective; and it is my duty to find out the facts of any case I am put on, without fear or favour to anyone. I would rather speak to you alone, in confidence if I may, without reference to any duty of anyone to anyone, except mine to Scotland Yard.'

'Of course! of course!' I answered mechanically, my heart sinking, I did not know why. 'Be quite frank with me. I assure you of my confidence.'

'Thank you, sir. I take it that what I say is not to pass beyond you---not to anyone. Not to Miss Trelawny herself, or even to Mr. Trelawny when he becomes well again.'

'Certainly, if you make it a condition!' I said a little more stiffly. The man recognized the change in my voice or manner, and said apologetically:

'Excuse me, sir, but I am going outside my duty in speaking to you at all on the subject. I know you, however, of old; and I feel that I can trust you. Not your word, sir, that is all right; but your discretion!'

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