I will
continue to bear your name because I must, but the other ties
between us are finished."
"You don't mean this, Philippa," he said gravely.
"But I do mean it," she insisted. "I mean every word I have spoken.
So far as I am concerned, Henry, this is your last chance."
There was a knock at the door. Mills entered with a note upon a
salver. Sir Henry took it up, glanced questioningly at his wife,
and tore open the envelope.
"There will be no answer, Mills," he said.
The man withdrew. Sir Henry read the few lines thoughtfully:--
Police-station, Dreymarsh
SIR,
According to enquiries made I find that Mr. Hamar Lessingham
arrived at the Hotel this evening in time for dinner. His
luggage arrived by rail yesterday. It is presumed that he came
by motor-car, but there is no car in the garage, nor any mention
of one. His room was taken for him by Miss Fairclough, ringing
up for Lady Cranston about seven o'clock.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN HAYLOCK.
"Is your note of interest?" Philippa enquired.
"In a sense, yes," he replied, thrusting it into his waistcoat
pocket. "I presume we can consider our late subject of conversation
finished with?"
"I have nothing more to say," she pronounced.
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