a hansom pulled up in front of 799, park lane, and a slim figure of a woman, dressed in deep mourning, ran up the broad flight of marble steps leading to the house. her features were closely concealed by a thick veil, so that the footman who answered the ring could makenothing of the visitor. her voice was absolutely steady as she asked to see lord ravenspur at once.
"that is impossible, madam," the footman protested; "his lordship is not yet down, and besides----"
"there is no 'besides' about it," the visitor said, imperiously; "it is a matter of life and death."
once more the servant hesitated. there was something about this woman that commanded his respect. the hour was still early for park lane, seeing that it was barely nine o'clock, and the notable thoroughfare was practically deserted. from the distance came the hoarse cries of a number of newsboys who were racing across the park. one of them came stumbling down park lane, filling the fresh spring atmosphere with his shouts. evidently something out of the common had happened to bring these birds of ill omen westward at so early an hour. with the curiosity of his class the footman turned to listen.
"terrible murder in fitzjohn square! death of mr. louis delahay, the famous artist! artist found dead in his studio! full details!"
the well-trained servant forgot his manners for the moment.
"good lord!" he exclaimed, "it can't be true. why, mr. delahay was a great friend of my master up to the last day or two----"
"i am mrs. delahay," the veiled woman said with quiet intentness. "please don't stand staring at me like that, but take me to your master at once. it is imperative that i should see lord ravenspur without a moment's delay."
the footman collected his scattered wits, and stammered out some kind of apology. there were other newsboys racing down the lane now. it seemed as if london was ringing with the name of louis delahay. then the great double doors of the big house closed sullenly and shut out the horrid sound. at any other time the veiled woman might have been free to admire the luxury and extravagant good taste of her surroundings. there were many people who regarded lord ravenspur as the most fortunate and talented man in london. not only had he been born to the possession of a fine old title, but he had almost unlimited wealth as well. as if this were not sufficient, nature had endowed him with a handsome presence and an intellect far beyond the common. apparently there was nothing that ravenspur could not do. he was a fine sportsman, and a large number of his forty odd years had been spent big game shooting abroad. what time he passed in england was devoted almost exclusively to artistic pursuits. as a portrait painter ravenspur stood on a level with the great masters of his time. more than one striking example of sculpture had come from his chisel. he had as much honour in the salons of vienna and paris as he had within the walls of burlington house. in fine, ravenspur was a great personage, a popular figure in society, and well known everywhere. his lavish hospitality was always in the best of good taste, and the entréeto 799, park lane was accounted a rare privilege by all his friends.
but the woman in black was thinking nothing of this, as she followed the footman along marble corridors to a sunny morning-room at the back of the house. the footman indicated a chair, but the visitor waved him aside with a gesture of impatience.
"go and fetch your master at once," she said.
for a few moments she paced up and down, weaving her way in and out amongst the rare objects of art like a wild animal that is freshly caged. she threw back her long, black veil presently as if the atmosphere of the place stifled her. her face might have been that of a marble statue, so intensely white and rigid it was. it was only the rapid dilation of the dark eyes which showed that the stranger had life and feeling at all. she turned abruptly as lord ravenspur came into the room. his handsome, smiling face and prematurely iron-grey hair afforded a strong contrast to the features of his visitor. he came forward with extended hands.
"this is an unexpected pleasure, maria," he said. "but what is wrong? louis is all right, i suppose?"
"louis is dead!" the woman said in the same cold, strained voice. "he has been foully murdered. i could not say more if i spoke for an hour. louis is dead!"
the speaker repeated the last three words over and over again as if she were trying to realise the dread significance of her own message. ravenspur stood there with his hand to his head, shocked and grieved almost beyond the power of speech.
"this is terrible," he murmured at length. "my dear maria, i cannot find words to express my sympathy. could you tell me how it happened? but perhaps i am asking too much."
"no," mrs. delahay replied, still speaking with the utmost calmness; "i am ready to answer any question you like to put to me. i am absolutely dazed and stunned. as yet i can realise nothing. but, perhaps, before the reaction comes i had better tell you everything. to think that i should lose him in this way whilst i am still a bride! but i dare not pity myself as yet, there is far too much stern work to be done. there will be plenty of time later on for the luxury of grief."
"won't you sit down?" ravenspur murmured.
"my dear friend, i couldn't. i must be walking about. i feel as if i could walk about for years. but i will try and tell you how it happened. he came back to london yesterday afternoon, as you know, and put up at the grand hotel. you see, i had never been in london before, and so i know nothing at all about it. if we had only gone straight to our own house in fitzjohn square this dreadful thing--but why do i think of that? you know the house was not quite ready for us, and that was the reason why we went to the grand. after visiting a theatre last night louis announced his intention of going as far as our house. i understood him to say that he required something from his studio. there were no caretakers on the premises, but louis had a latchkey, so that was all right. i went to bed about twelve o'clock, thinking no evil, and not in the least alarmed because louis had not come back. as you know, he had always been a terribly late man, and i thought perhaps he had met one of his old companions, or perhaps he had turned into the garrick club. still, when i woke up this morning about six, and found that he had not returned, i became genuinely alarmed. i took a cab as far as fitzjohn square, and went into the house."
"one moment," ravenspur interrupted. "i don't quite understand how you managed to get into the premises."
"that was an easy matter, though the front door was closed. the latchkey was still in the lock. i only had to turn it to obtain admission. i went straight to the studio, and there on the floor----but i really cannot say any more. strung up as i am i could not describe it to you. . . . i suppose i cried out, and when i came back to a proper comprehension of things the place was full of police. for the last two hours i have been with them answering all sorts of questions. then something told me to come to you, and here i am. and whatever you do, please don't leave me alone. i could not bear to be alone."
"i wish i could tell you how sorry i am," lord ravenspur murmured. "this is a most extraordinary business altogether. you say that louis left you not later than twelve o'clock to go as far as fitzjohn square, and that, when he left the grand hotel, he had no other object in his mind. you are quite sure of this?"
"i am absolutely certain," mrs. delahay replied.
"well, that is a strange thing," ravenspur went on. "it so happens that i had an accident to my own studio a day or two ago, and until yesterday the workmen were in repairing the glass roof. i was engaged upon a small work which i was anxious to finish, and it occurred to me that i might just as well make use of your husband's studio, seeing that he was away from home and did not require it. i obtained a duplicate key from the house agent, and all yesterday i was working on my picture there. in fact it is in louis' studio at the present moment. after some friends who were dining with me last night left, i walked as far as fitzjohn square, and till nearly a quarter past one this morning i was at work there. i might have gone on all night, only the electric light failed suddenly, and i was left in darkness. then i came home and went to bed. and i am prepared to swear that it had turned half-past one before i left your house, and there was no sign of louis up to that time."
"it is inexplicable," the woman said wearily. "when i try to think my brain seems to turn to water, and everything goes misty before my eyes. i feel like a woman who has had no sleep for years. i feel as if i must get something to relieve this terrible pressure on my brain. is there nothing that you can suggest?"
"i think so," ravenspur said quietly. "i am going to take you back to your hotel, and call for a doctor on the way. you cannot go on like this. no human mind could stand it."
