"How do you ever suppose they came to connect _me_ with the matter?" the other woman said after a time. "They didn't know my address, at the studio. And even if they had, I have never been seen with you. I don't see why they ever suspected me."
"I don't know. That man Duvall is pretty shrewd, though. I _did_ manage to get away from him, the other night. I'd like to have seen his face, when he got back to the cab and found me gone."
"His wife followed you here, from the hotel, I suppose. You took an awful chance."
"I don't understand how she traced me. I knew she was following me, and when she saw me go up in the elevator, at the hotel, I expected her to come, too. I was afraid they might prevent me from coming down, while they were coming up, so I walked down. I watched, from the stairs, and saw her and the clerk get out of the elevator on the floor where that girl's apartment was. Then I came down the stairs and went out the side entrance. I knew she was upstairs, when I left, and I don't see how she traced me."
"That's just about it. And if he did, like as not he's waiting for her yet."
"That's all very well, but won't he see us going out?"
"Suppose he does. Anyway, it's dark, and we'll wear veils. And we won't go out together. But I don't think he'll wait so long."
"If he doesn't, he'll go back to the hotel and report, and then the woman's husband will be up here in no time. I think we'd better get out now. You'll have to leave the trunk. There's nothing much in it."
Again there was a long silence. Then Grace heard the door open, and the two women came into the room, carrying their suitcases. She closed her eyes and pretended to be still unconscious. One of the women paused beside her.
"If they don't find out where she is," she whispered to her companion, "she's likely to stay here and starve to death."
"I shouldn't be sorry," the other snarled. "But if you feel badly about it, it's easy enough to telephone to-morrow and tell the janitor to let her out. No chance of a cab, I guess."
"No. Not at this hour. We'll take the car down to Forty-second Street, and cross over. Are you ready?"
"Yes. I'd better put out the light, though."
"All right." The first woman moved to the door, while the second returned to the bedroom and snapped off the light. A moment later Grace saw her ghostly figure pass the couch, and then the snapping of the door catch told her that she was alone.