下载辰思小说免费APP
“Youmustremember，“hesaid，“thatsupposinganyoneelsestumblesuponthesametrailasIhavebeenpursuing，andsuspicionisafterwardsdirectedtowardsmadame，yournotproducingthatletterattheinquestwillmakeituselessasevidenceinherfavour。“
“Ihaveconsideredallthesethings，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“Ishalldeposittheletterinasafeplace。Butitsusewillneverbenecessary。Youaretheonlymanwhomighthaveforcedmetoproduceit，andyouknowthetruth。“
Passmorerosereluctantly。
“Iwantyou，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“toleavemenotonlyyouraddress，butthemeansoffindingyouatanymomentduringthenextfour-and-twentyhours。Imayhavesomeimportantworkforyou。“
Themansmiledashetoreleaffromhispocketbookandamadeafewnotes。
“Ishallbegladtotakeanycommissionfromyou，sir，“hesaid。
“Totellyouthetruth，Iscarcelythoughtthatyouwouldbecontenttositdownandwait。“
Mr。Sabinsmiled。
“Ithink，“hesaid，“thatveryshortlyIcanfindyouplentytodo。“
Mr。Sabinafewminutesafterwardsorderedhiscarriage，andwasdriventoDorsetHouse。HeaskedforLucille，butwasshownatonceintothelibrary，wheretheDukewasawaitinghim。ThenMr。Sabinknewthatsomethinghadhappened。
TheDukeextendedhishandsolemnly。
“MydearSouspennier，“hesaid，“Iamgladtoseeyou。Iwasinfactonthepointofdespatchingamessengertoyourhotel。“
“Iamglad，“Mr。Sabinremarked，“thatmyvisitisopportune。Totellyouthetruth，Duke，Iamanxioustoseemywife。“
TheDukecoughed。
“Itrust，“hesaid，“thatyouwillnotforamomentconsidermeguiltyofanydiscourtesytotheCountess，forwhomIhaveagreatrespectandliking。ButithascometomyknowledgethattheshelterofmyroofandnamewerebeinggiventoproceedingsofwhichIheartilydisapproved。IthereforeonlyafewhoursagoformallybrokeoffallconnectionwithSaxeLeinitzerandhisfriends，andtoputthematterplainly，Iexpelledthemfromthehouse。“
“Icongratulateyouheartily，Duke，uponamostsensibleproceeding，“
Mr。Sabinsaid。“Butinthemeantimewhereismywife？“
“Yourwifewasnotpresentatthetime，“theDukeanswered，“andI
hadnottheslightestintentionofincludingherintheremarksI
made。WhethersheunderstoodthisornotIcannotsay，butIhavesincebeengiventounderstandthatsheleftwiththem。“
“Howlongago？“Mr。Sabinasked。
“Severalhours，Ifear，“theDukeanswered。“Ishouldlike，Souspennier，toexpresstoyoumyregretsthatIwaseverinducedtobecomeconnectedinanywaywithproceedingswhichmusthavecausedyouagreatdealofpain。Ibegyoutoacceptmyapologies。
“Idonotblameyou，Duke，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“Myonedesirenowistowrestmywifeawayfromthisgang。Canyoutellmewhethersheleftaloneorwithanyofthem？“
“Iwillendeavourtoascertain，“theDukesaid，ringingthebell。
ButbeforetheDuke’ssomewhatlong-windedseriesofquestionshadgoneveryfarMr。Sabingraspedthefactthattheservantshadbeentamperedwith。Withoutwastinganymoretimehetookasomewhathurriedleaveanddrovebacktothehotel。Oneofthehallportersapproachedhim，smiling。
“Thereisaladywaitingforyouinyourrooms，sir，“heannounced。
“Shearrivedafewminutesago。“
Mr。Sabinrangfortheelevator，gotoutathisfloorandwalkeddownthecorridor，leaningalittlemoreheavilythanusualuponhisstick。IfindeeditwereLucillewhohadbravedallandcometohimthewaybeforethemmightstillbesmoothsailing。Hewouldneverlethergoagain。Hewassureofthat。TheywouldleaveEngland-yes，therewastimestilltocatchthefiveo’clocktrain。Heturnedthehandleofhisdoorandentered。Afamiliarfigurerosefromthedepthsofhiseasy-chair。Herhatlayonthetable，herjacke
