Lonesome Road

Chapter Twenty-six

Miss Silver came along the passage from her room and stopped at Caroline Ponsonby’s door. She turned the handle noiselessly, and was aware of a curtained dusk, and silence. These were expected. She pushed the door an inch or two and listened for the sound of measured breathing. But it was a very different sound which broke the silence. Miss Silver’s hand closed hard upon the knob, for what she heard was Richard Treherne speaking in a tone of agony.

“Caroline! Caroline! Caroline!”

Miss Silver stood where she was for a moment. Then she pushed the door a little wider and looked around it. Caroline lay on her bed with her face half hidden in the pillow, whilst Richard, on his knees beside her, buried his face in his hands and groaned.

As a gentlewoman, the thought of eavesdropping was extremely repugnant to Miss Silver. As a detective engaged upon a case of attempted murder, she treated her scruples with exemplary firmness. She heard Caroline give a heartbroken sob, and hoped very much that she would be permitted to hear something rather more articulate.

Her hope was fulfilled. Richard’s head came up with a jerk.

“Oh, my darling-don’t! You’re tearing my heart out. I tell you I can’t bear it. You turn away from me, you refuse me, you look at me as if I was a stranger, you faint-and you won’t tell me why. Do you think it’s any use pretending with me? Oh, my darling, you know it isn’t. What is it all about? You’ve got to tell me. You can’t go on like this. You’re breaking your heart, and you won’t say why.”

Caroline spoke in a muffled voice against her pillow.

“I can’t go on. I can’t say why. I don’t need to-you know.”

“I know?”

“You know-I know-I can’t go on.” She raised her head suddenly. “Richard, will you go away-right away and never come back? Will you swear that you will never come back?”

“Caroline!”

She caught his wrist and pulled herself up.

“You must! I tell you I know. You’ve got to go away. It’s killing me.”

“Caroline!”

She pushed back the hair from her eyes, and staring over his shoulder, she saw Miss Silver peering round the door. The neatly netted front disappeared a fraction of a second too late. There was a discreet knock.

When Miss Silver entered, Caroline’s face was hidden again. Mr. Richard Treherne was on his feet. If anyone was embarrassed, it was not the visitor.

“I thought I heard voices,” she said brightly. She addressed a glowering young man. “I hope Miss Caroline is feeling better-but I only came to inquire, not to disturb her. I feel sure she needs quiet and should on no account be disturbed, but I thought I might just inquire.”

Richard strode to the door and out of the room. For a moment Miss Silver looked after him with a peculiar expression on her face. Then she approached the bed.

“Miss Caroline,” she said, “I am a stranger, but my business in this house is to help Miss Treherne who brought me here. I think you need help too. You are in great trouble-you know something which you are afraid to tell. Believe me, the truth is always best. Sometimes it is easier to speak to a stranger than to someone in the same family. If you will tell me what is troubling you, I will do my best to help you. I have no connection with the police, and this affair is not as yet in their hands. It is still possible for me to help you. But if you will not speak to me, let me urge you very strongly to cross that passage and go to Miss Treherne. She loves you dearly. There is nothing that you could not tell her. If you remain silent, great harm may come of it.”

There was a pause. Then Caroline raised herself upon her elbow. Her eyes were wide and blank with misery, her features pinched and drawn, her color ghastly. Miss Silver looked at her with compassion. She spoke in a gentle voice.

“I heard what you said just now. You told Mr. Richard that you knew. What is it that you know? It would be better for everyone if you would say.”

Caroline stared at her. She said rather wildly,

“I can’t think-I’m ill-I want to think. Oh, won’t you please go away?”

Miss Silver nodded.

“Very well, I will go away and leave you to think over what I have said. I do not wish to hurry you, but it will be better for everyone if you will make up your mind as quickly as possible.”

She went out of the room and shut the door. As she did so she saw the girl sink back again and hide her face.