"Very good. Thank you, madam. I will go up."
"Tell him I am bringing his breakfast very soon."
"I'll bring coffee and toast enough for both of you."
"I will come back and fetch Mr. Heath's breakfast, madam. Afterward, if I may have a snack here in the kitchen, I shall be grateful."
Marcia saw rather than heard the stranger mount the staircase.
His step was like velvet. So noiseless was it, it made not a sound either on the broad creaking staircase, or on the floor overhead.
Nevertheless, he must have entered Stanley Heath's room, for soon she detected the invalid's voice, imperative and eager, each sentence ending with an interrogation. The lapses of silence which intervened and which at first she took to be pauses, she presently decided represented the inaudible and subdued replies of Currier.
To judge from the sounds, Heath was pouring out an avalanche of questions.
Sometimes he choked as if words came faster than he could utter them; and once he broke into peals of hearty laughter, followed by a paroxysm of coughing.
Still, Currier failed to return for the waiting tray.
"He has forgotten all about it," murmured Marcia. "The coffee will be stone cold and the toast ruined. I'll carry them up myself."
She mounted the stairs softly that her coming might break in as little as possible upon the conversation of her two guests.
"She was alone in the library when I went in," Heath was saying, "and turned so white I feared she might faint or scream. Luckily she did neither. Steadying herself against the table, she faced me.
"'You know what I'm after,' I said--'the jewels.'
"'Quickly,' I repeated. 'Someone may come.'
"With that, she fumbled under her skirt and produced the jewel-case, pouring out a torrent of explanations.
"I stopped no longer than I had to, I assure you. With the jewels in my hand, I slipped through the French window and made for the landing where I had left the boat. In no time I had made my get-away. Every detail of my plan would have gone smoothly but for the fog. I lost my bearings completely. Imagine my amazement at finding myself here."
So Heath really had taken the jewels--taken them from the resisting woman who owned them--taken them against her will and made off with them!