"Mr. Wetherell, this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest. Do you think it can possibly be true?"
"I sadly fear so," said Mr. Wetherell. "But perhaps Mr. Hatteras will tell you the story exactly as he told it to me."
I did so, and, when I had finished, the Governor went to the door and called a servant.
"Find Lord Beckenham, Johnson, at once, and ask him to be so good as to come to me here. Stay—on second thoughts I'll go and look for him myself."
He went off, leaving us alone to listen to the ticking of the clock upon the mantlepiece, and to wonder what was going to happen next. Five minutes went by and then ten, but still he did not return. When he did do so it was with a still more serious countenance.
"You are evidently right, gentlemen. Neither the spurious marquis nor his tutor, Mr. Baxter, can be found anywhere. I have discovered, however, that all their valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the house to-night without the knowledge of my servants. This is a very terrible business. But I have given instructions and the police will be communicated with at once. And we must do our best to find the real Beckenham."
"Lord Amberley," said Wetherell, in a choking voice, "do you think one of your servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once, I am not feeling very well."
The Governor hesitated a moment, and then said:
"I am sorry to say, Mr. Wetherell, your daughter left the House an hour ago. A message was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken ill and needed her. She left at once."
