I'm lost in the maze. I don't know whom to believe
nor whom to trust--except," and suddenly she smiled at him confidently,
"that I trust you."
He held her eyes with his own as he leaned forward across the table and
answered very quietly:
"I shall try, dear lady, to be worthy."
"And now," she laughed, "may I tell you what happened to me when you
were called to the telephone?"
"You may talk to me forever," he replied.
"And what as to the French Ambassador?" she asked.
"Bother the Marquis--he may wait until morning."
"Tomorrow, then, is beyond the forever?"
"Tomorrow may take care of itself!"
"Don't be sacrilegious, sir."
"I'll be anything you wish," he replied.
"Then be a good listener while I tell my tale. It was this wise, Mr.
Harleston. Immediately after you were called away, indeed you were
scarcely out of the room, a page brought a verbal message from the
telephone operator that my maid had been found unconscious in the
corridor of the eighth floor, and carried into 821. I hurried to the
elevator. As I entered the door of 821, I was seized from behind and a
handkerchief bound over my mouth and eyes. I then was tied in a chair,
and a man's voice said that no further harm would come to me if I
remained quiet until morning.
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