"It's
past one!"
Cynthia was amazed to hear that.
"He must be very ill, that old gentleman," Jeanne opined. "And poor
Doctor Arkroyd will be very tired. She will find the walk across the
heath very fatiguing."
"Walk, Jeanne? Didn't she take the car?" cried Cynthia, surprised.
No, the Doctor had not taken the car; she had started to walk with Mr.
Beaumaroy; the parlormaid had certainly told Jeanne that.
"I tell you what," said the Captain. "I'll just tool along to Tower
Cottage. I'll look out for Doctor Mary on the road, and give her a lift
back if I meet her. If I don't, I can stop at the cottage and get
Beaumaroy to tell her that I'm there, and can wait to bring her home as
soon as she's ready. You'd better go to bed, Cynthia."
Jeanne tactfully disappeared, and the lovers said good-night. After
Alec's departure, Jeanne received the anticipated confidence.
That departure almost synchronized with two events at Tower Cottage. The
first was Beaumaroy's exit from the front door, leaving Mary in charge
of his prisoner who, consequently, was unable to keep any watch on the
road or to warn his principals of approaching danger.
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