CodalSearch this book — or all of Codal…⌘K
nydus/The Quest of the Silver FleecePublic
Page 446 of 506
Table of Contents

XXXIV. The Return of Alwyn Bles

Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell had just had a bit of news which only he would fully appreciate.

“Have you heard of the Vanderpools?” she asked.

‚ÄúNo‚ÅÝ‚Äîexcept that he was appointed and confirmed at last.‚Äù

‚ÄúWell, they had only arrived in France when he died of apoplexy. I do not know,‚Äù added Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell, ‚ÄúI may be wrong and‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI hope I‚Äôm not glad.‚Äù Then there leapt to her mind a hypothetical question which had to do with her own curious situation. It was characteristic of her to brood and then restlessly to seek relief in consulting the one person near who knew her story. She started to open the subject again today.

But Alwyn, his own mind full, spoke first and rapidly. He, too, had turned to her as he saw her come from Zora’s home. He must know more about the girl. He could no longer endure this silence. Zora beneath her apparent frankness was impenetrable, and he felt that she carefully avoided him, although she did

446