"Yes, he admitted that," she said hurriedly. "But do not let us speak of it. My father has got away in safety. For me that is all-sufficient. Good-night, Owen, dear." And she kissed me fondly.
"Good-night, darling," I said, returning her sweet caress; and then, when she had passed from the room, I seized my hat and descended the big flight of red-carpeted stairs, bent on obtaining some solution of the mystery of that most exciting and curious episode.
Nothing definite, however, could I gather from the hotel people.
They knew nothing, and seemed highly annoyed that such an incident should occur in their quiet and highly aristocratic house.
Next day Sylvia waited for news of her father, but none came.
Delanne called about eleven o'clock in the morning, and had a brief interview with her in private. What passed between them I know not, save that the man, whose real name was Guertin, met me rather coldly and afterwards bade me adieu.
I hated the fellow. He was always extremely polite, always just a little sarcastic, and yet, was he not the associate of the man Reckitt?
I wished to leave Paris and return to London, but Sylvia appeared a little anxious to remain. She seemed to expect some secret communication from her father.
"Thank Heaven!" she said, on the day following Delanne's call, "father has escaped them. That was surely a daring dash he made. He knew that they intended to kill him."
"But I don't understand," I said. "Do you mean they would kill him openly?"
"Of course. They have no fear. Their only fear is while he remains alive."
"No, it would not," she responded, shaking her head gravely. "They would contrive an 'accident.'"
"Well," I said, "he has evaded them, and we must be thankful for that. Do you expect to hear from him?"
"Yes," she replied, "I shall probably receive a message to-night. That is why I wish to remain, Owen. I wonder," she added rather hesitatingly, "I wonder whether you would consider it very strange of me if I asked you to let me go out to-night at ten o'clock alone?"
"Well, I rather fear your going out alone and unprotected at that hour, darling," I responded.
"Ah! have no fear whatever for me. I shall be safe enough. They will not attempt anything just now. I am quite confident of that. I--I want to go forth alone, for an hour or so."