They require
a CLUE. What need of a CLUE if you can interpret character?"
So certain was Hilda Wade of her conclusions, indeed, that Mrs. Mallet
begged me next day to take my holiday at once--which I could easily
do--and go down to the little bay in the Hartland district of which she
had spoken, in search of Hugo. I consented. She herself proposed to set
out quietly for Bideford, where she could be within easy reach of me, in
order to hear of my success or failure; while Hilda Wade, whose summer
vacation was to have begun in two days' time, offered to ask for an
extra day's leave so as to accompany her. The broken-hearted sister
accepted the offer; and, secrecy being above all things necessary,
we set off by different routes: the two women by Waterloo, myself by
Paddington.
We stopped that night at different hotels in Bideford; but next morning,
Hilda rode out on her bicycle, and accompanied me on mine for a mile or
two along the tortuous way towards Hartland. "Take nothing for granted,"
she said, as we parted; "and be prepared to find poor Hugo Le Geyt's
appearance greatly changed. He has eluded the police and their 'clues'
so far; therefore, I imagine he must have largely altered his dress and
exterior.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144