He
interpreted the misery in her face, and turned sick at heart with
the pain of what it told him.
"You heard?" he asked.
She nodded. "Is it true? Did you see the permit yourself?"
"Yes. Here it is."
"I don't want to see it. It doesn't matter," she said, with utter
weariness in her voice. "When do we leave? I want to go home. Send
father to me, please, Fitz."
Mr. Brewster came to her, bearing the news that the sailing was
set for the morrow.
"I'm glad to know that Dr. and Mrs. Pruyn are provided for," she
remarked, so casually that the troubled father drew a breath of
relief, concluding that he must have misinterpreted the girl's
interest in the man behind the goggles.
On his way to the patio, he passed through the room where the
scientist had lain. He came out looking perturbed.
"Has any one been in that room just now?" he asked Sherwen.
"Not that I've seen."
"The coat and the other things are not there."
Inquiry and search alike proved unavailing. Not until an hour
later did they discover that Carroll had also disappeared. Sherwen
found a note from him on the office desk:--
Please look after my luggage.
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