"There is no lady of this house" said Mr. Netherby "except Mrs.
Marshland and she rules it with a firm hand"
"I want to see Miss Winston" cried the lady now almost in tears.
Here Helen interupted, "Mr. Netherby" she said "If this lady wishes to see me, kindly let her in at once."
"I"ve got the master"s orders not to" replied Netherby firmly.
"Insolent person!" cried Helen "obey me at once, open the door."
Netherby was alarmed and opening the door he fled into the office leaving his mistress to admit her guest if she would.
"Can I do anything for you my good lady?" asked Helen opening the door wide.
With a cry the lady flung herself into Helen"s arms, saying "oh Helen Helen, how very glad I am to see you."
"Why Gladys" cried Helen "how came you here?" "Oh its a long story" said Gladys (for it was she) "if I may come in, I"ll tell it to you."
"Yes do" said Helen "stay the whole day if you will, for Cyril is out and I am entirely alone" So saying Helen led the way to the sitting room, where Gladys soon divested herself of her dripping cloak and hat, and sat down by the fire to warm herself. "How dreadfully wet you are"
said Helen as she shook out Gladys"s cloak.
"I had to walk all the way from Holburn station" replied Gladys "there were no cabs to be seen" "Dear dear" said Helen "I hope you wont take cold."
"Not I" laughed Gladys "and now Helen dear if you are ready I"ll tell you why I came here."
"Yes do" pleaded Helen drawing her chair to the fire. "It is a long story" mused Gladys gazing into the fire, as though she could see the events of the past three months of her life written there in letters of red and gold. "as you know Helen, when I left Kenelham I went with James straight to Norfolk, where my parents and relations live. James and I stayed there for, say three weeks, and during that time I was perfectly happy. I did not write to you as I didn"t know your address, I presume you did"nt know mine. Well at the end of these three weeks James got an invatation to go and stay with some people in Brighton and he asked me to go too I was glad to do so as I had never been to that part at all.
So it was arranged for me to go and we started. We had not been there a week when a marked changed came over James. He grew white and thin and seemed so terribly nervous about the smallest thing. Men were constantly calling to see him and after their visits he looked even worse. It was not a large house where we stayed, and my room was next to his. He went to bed very late and I fancy he slept badly. I constantly heard him moan and walk about his room, and what terrified me so much was he used to talk about murders and robberies. So I took to listening to him, by putting my bed close to the wall. And I believe he found it out, for he took to ill treating me, that is to say he was not kind, and he called me horrible names. I felt it very much indeed and it must have made me look ill, for Mrs Martin (the hostess) said she thought the sea air did not agree with me and advised James to take me to some place where I had not been before. Accordingly we arranged to take a small house in Richmond for a few months till I got better. There it is we are living now. We have most comfortable rooms in a nice house overlooking the terrace gardens. Our landlady is a very good soul, and though I am much better for the change, James is not, he remains the same. All at once I remembered what you said to him that day about a murder. So I resolved to come and find out where you lived. I told James I wanted a whole day to do as I liked and I took a train for Holburn and I was directed where to go to, and here I am arrived in the very knick of time, just as Mr.
Sheene is off for the day and you are quite alone to answer any questions I put to you."
During the latter part of Gladys"s story Helen had grown very white and she now paced the room in breathless agitation.
"What is it Helen?" enquired Gladys.
"Yes I knew I was right" muttered Helen half aloud "it is true too true alas! but my revenge is at hand."
"Helen do sit down" cried Gladys "you look quite scared, I hope my story has not frightened you."
"Frightenned me, No" cried Helen loudly "you have only confirmed doubts which have been lingering in my brain for month"s past."
"Doubts, what doubts." asked Gladys.
"Oh Gladys" cried Helen bursting into tears "thank goodness you came to me today, for you may yet be saved from a terrible misfortune."
"For pity"s sake Helen speak out" cried Gladys "you talk like a tragedian Gladys" said Helen "did you say that Mr. Palsey talked about murders and robberies?"
"Yes" replied Gladys sadly "he certainly made use of those two words."
"Shall I tell you why?" asked Helen "I shall be much obliged if you will" answered Gladys.
"Mr. Palsey"s conscience has begun to trouble him" replied Helen.
"Oh Helen what do you mean?" cried Gladys wildly.
"Simply this" said Helen "you know when my poor father died, people said it was suicide."
"Yes, but I never belived that" said Gladys with marked descision.
"Evidently the detectives have found out their mistake" replied Helen "you say, men are constantly calling on Mr. Palsey."
"Yes" replied Gladys "they are, but Helen whatever do you mean."
"Gladys" said Helen, "dont hate me for what I am going to tell you; I only do it because I love you and wish to save you, it is a blessing you came here today, I suppose in another week you would have married Mr.
Palsey but you wont now, for the man you call your lover is the murderer of my father."
Gladys gave a loud groan and sank helpless to the floor.
Helen ran to lift her up and after dashing some water on her face was happy to see her open her eyes.
"Gladys, dear Gladys" she cried "I should not have told you."
"Yes, yes" said Gladys faintly, "you did quite right, only it was such a shock to me, after beliving in him all these months."
"Of course it is" replied Helen soothingly "thank goodness I shall never have cause to doubt Cyril"s honour."
"Oh Helen what shall I do?" moaned poor Gladys "to think of going back to sleep in the house with a villian like him "he might try to murder me in the night."
"Why not stay here a few nights till you think of some plans" suggested Helen "we have heaps of room."
"Oh no no" cried Gladys desperately "I dare not vex James like that and besides Mr. Sheene would not have me in his house."
"Oh Gladys" cried Helen "he would be only too pleased to be of help to you."
"No he would not" said Gladys "he hates me."
"Gladys!" screamed Helen "how can you?"
"It is true" said Gladys "and I will tell you why."
Helen gave a snort of disgust but she listened attentively for all that.
"You see" said Gladys "I had to walk from Holburn Station as you know and it took me some time as I did not know the way; I had just caught sight of this office from the opposite side of the road and was going to cross, when the door opened and Mr. Sheene himself came out, he did not see me at first, he appeared to be looking at the sky, but the moment he caught sight of me his face darkened directly, he looked at me for a minute with posative hatred in his eyes, and then turning round he went into the office, to give an order, I presume that order was that no women were to be let in, because the instant I asked to see you, I was furiously a.s.saulted by a presuming clerk, who called me a gossiping woman, and no end of horrid names."
"Oh" said Helen rather crossly "I think you must be mistaken, but all the same if you wont stay the night, you wont,"
"I really can not," replied Gladys.
"Did Cyril speak to you when he came out again?" enquired Helen.