"Sit down," said Mrs. Willoughby, "and have some with us."
"Thanks," answered Vanbrugh. "I am even ruder than I seem, for I am in a hurry. Do you think I could see Mrs. Darche? For a minute?"
"I daresay," replied Cousin Annie, doubtfully.
"Of course you can. She is upstairs and not at home." Dolly laughed.
"So Stubbs told me," said Vanbrugh, "and I came in to ask you to help me. I am very glad I have seen you first. I know it is late and I will not keep you a moment. There is something that I must say. I have just been at the club for a moment and Brown came in and four or five others. There is certainly an impression that John Darche has really come back again."
"Good heavens!" cried Mrs. Willoughby, thoroughly startled.
"Oh, how awful!" exclaimed Dolly in real distress. "But you were all saying after luncheon that it was impossible."
"I know," said Vanbrugh. "I know we were. But it looks otherwise now. There was so much talk about it that I proposed to Brown to try and find the man. We have been down town since then, to Mulberry Street. There certainly is a man knocking about under the name of John Darche, who landed from an Italian vessel last night."
"Have you seen him?" asked Dolly. "Oh, poor Marion!"
"Dreadful, dreadful!" repeated Mrs. Willoughby, staring at Vanbrugh.
"No," answered the latter in reply to Dolly's question, "we have not seen him, but we shall have him this evening."
"Here?" exclaimed Mrs. Willoughby, looking round nervously.
"Yes--or at least, under our hand," said Vanbrugh. "Brown is waiting for information at the Mulberry Street Station."
"To bring him here to-night?" asked Cousin Annie, with increasing anxiety.
"And you have come to warn Marion?" inquired Dolly.
"Yes, in a way," answered Vanbrugh. "But not to tell her, of course. I want her to give strict orders about any odd-looking persons who may present themselves. I mean to tell her that I am afraid some reporter may try to get in, and that the man at the door must be very careful."
"I will go to her," said Mrs. Willoughby, rising. "Mr. Vanbrugh--if he comes, if it is really he, he cannot be turned away from what was his own house."
"No, but he shall be stopped at the door, and I will go out and talk to him and persuade him to escape, or to come and see me in the morning, if he is mad enough to stay."