"Virgilio Poggi has had a fatal fall and is dying," said the
messenger. "He prays Signor Redmayne to fly to him before it is too
late."
Assunta dared not delay the message. Indeed, knowing all that this
must mean to her master, she delivered it instantly, and five
minutes after hearing the dreadful news, Albert Redmayne, in great
agony of mind, had embarked, to be rowed toward the promontory where
his friend dwelt.
Assunta declared that her master had been gone for an hour, if not
longer.
"It may be true," said Jenny, but Brendon knew too well what had
happened.
The group formed under Peter's command and he issued his directions
swiftly. He cast one look at Mark which the detective never forgot;
but none saw it save Brendon himself. Then he spoke.
"Row this boat back to the steamer, Brendon," he said, "and tell
them to take you across to Poggi as quick as may be. If Redmayne is
there, leave him there and return. But he's not there: he's at the
bottom of the lake. Go!"
Mark hastened to the boat and one of the officers who had come with
Ganns wrote a dozen words on a sheet from a notebook.
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