Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/65

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THE FIRST STEP
55

amused him. 'You can feel sure of that!' he answered. 'Best of news! Now be patient till to-morrow—you shall know all about it to-morrow afternoon—I shall be ready then.'"

"And then this Handel Street affair happened—that very night!" muttered Wedgwood. "He'd said no more to you than what you've just told me?"

"Not a word more. Of course, I was awfully excited about it. I thought he'd found out that I had some relations living, or that there was money coming to me, or something of that sort, and I wondered what he'd tell me next day. And then, I read about his death in next morning's paper!"

She paused, looking shyly and enquiringly at the detective, and Wedgwood saw what was in her mind. He shook his head, sympathetically.

"You're wondering if I know what it was he was going to tell you?" he said. "I only wish I did. It would solve a good deal of mystery. But—I don't. I know no more than you do."

"Then I've done no good in coming here!" exclaimed the girl, sorrowfully.

"On the contrary, you've done no end of good," said Wedgwood. "You've given me the first bit of real help I've had since starting out! You won't understand yet, though you will in time, perhaps, but the whole mystery of this