"Well, I'm sure there's no need to hurry so," Mrs. Moyat declared, backing out of the room. "Blanche, you see if you can't persuade Mr. Ducaine. Father'll be home early this evening, too." "I think," Blanche said, "that Mr. Ducaine has made up his mind." She walked with me to the hall door, but she declined to shake hands with me. Her appearance was little short of tragic. I think that at another time I might have been amused, for never in my life had I spoken more than a few courteous words to the girl. But my nerves were all on edge, and I took her seriously. I walked down the street, leaving her standing in the threshold with the door open as though anxious to give me a chance to return if I would. I looked back at the corner, and waved my hand. There was something almost threatening in the grim irresponsive figure, standing watching me, and making no pretence at returning my farewell--watching me with steady eyes and close-drawn brows. CHAPTER XXIII MOSTYN RAY EXPLAINS I walked straight to the House, and locked up my papers in the great safe. I had hoped to escape without seeing either Ray or Lady Angela, but as I crossed the hall they issued from the billiard-room. Lady Angela turned towards me eagerly. "Mr. Ducaine," she exclaimed, "have you seen anything of Lord Blenavon to-day?" I shook my head. "I have not seen him for several days, Lady Angela," I answered. Ray said something to her which I could not hear. She nodded and left us together. "It seems," he said, "that this amiable young gentleman is more or less in the clutches of our siren friend at Braster Grange. I think that you and I had better go and dig him out." "Thank you," I answered, "but I had all I wanted of Braster Grange last night." "Pooh!" he answered lightly, "you are not even scratched. They are clumsy conspirators there. I think that you and I are a match for them. Come along!" "You must excuse me, Colonel Ray," I said, "but I have no desire to visit Braster Grange, even with you." Lady Angela, whose crossing the hall had been noiseless, suddenly interposed. "You are quite right, Mr. Ducaine," she said; "but this is no visit of courtesy, is it? I am sure that my brother would never stay there voluntarily. Something must have happened to him." "We will go and see," Ray declared. "Come along, Ducaine." I hesitated, but a glance from Lady Angela settled the matter. For another such I would have walked into hell. Ray and I started off together, and I was not long before I spoke of the things which were in my mind. "Colonel Ray," I said, "when I saw you this morning you made two statements, both of which were false." Ray brought out his pipe and began to fill it in leisurely fashion. "Go on," he said. "What were they?" "The first was that you had come down from London by the newspaper train this morning, and the second was that you had received your injuries in a hansom cab accident."