The Mystery of the Clasped Hands

arch of the ladies, in order to reassure them after the terrible shock they had received. Immediately on hearing his friend fall, Godfrey hurried to

. I knew very well that this terrible business had upset you more than you were will

n not think what it was that caused

rned with a glass of brandy an

ined, and this shock, coming on the top of cer

poor welcome for you to Detwich. Now, perhaps, you

hile Sir Vivian and Godfrey went on to explain matters as best they could to the ladies, w

entered the room, "you must know how we all feel for you. This has been a t

s been committed in London, and that the assassin, knowing that I had endeavoured to be a good friend to his victim, has played a ghastly practical joke upon me. As you may suppose, the

in the hands of the police, and I am sure that Griffin will do all that li

a small hand

y for you," w

nitely soothing to him. It did him more

Fensden?" inquir

dfrey that he would prefer to go to his room to rest for a while. I have never

," the other replied,

his intention of returning home, and when his ca

o committed the crime will certainly be captured befo

went into the house and made his way upstairs to inquire after Fensden's welf

d Victor, as he rose from the sofa on which he had been lying. "I

ing to forgive

rst in the affirmative, Godfrey left him, and proceeded along the passage to his own room. When he reached it he passed to the further end and stood before the original sketch of h

aid to himself, "and that the brute who murdered her is still at l

order to give any evidence that might be in his power to supply. It was only when he had finished the letter and sealed it that he felt that he had done a small portion of his duty toward the

nner ever since the idea had first occurred to him. In his own mind he had endeavoured to picture the first meal that Victor and his betrothed should take together. He had imagined his friend doing his best to amuse Molly wit

o find Molly alone. It was plain that she had been there long enough to read the evening

im was once your model. I can now understand why it has affected you so much. Those hands were hers, were they not? I see also that it says that some one, a gen

y answered. "For the simple reason t

up at him with startled eyes. "But that was the

ered. "Perhaps it would be better if

am content to trust you in everything. If I did not

oman; told her of Teresina's sorrow, and of his own desire

avoured to have done something for her for your sake. Now, unhappily, it is too late. But you

r spirits. He apologized in an easy fashion for his weakness of the afternoon, and ascribed

ing any amount of fatigue, plays cricket and football, tennis and golf, wh

time, and thus added to the general gloom. After dinner there were music and polite conversation in the drawing-room until ten o'clock, followed by a retirement to the billiard-room for a game at pool. It did not prove a success, however. No one had any heart for the game, and before the first three lives had been lost it was vot

he head constable had not yet risen from his bed. He waited in the small office while the other dressed, finding what consolation he could in a case above the chimney-piece in which several sets of manacles were displayed. The constable in charge was plainly overwhelmed b

ed to remark; "but I have been so thinking of this 'ere case that I did not get to sle

Yard, of course?" said Godfrey, aft

ritten report at the same time. The post isn't in yet, sir

Squire of Detwich for his ally he could scarcely fail to be noticed, particularly wh

l through the service in the little church afterward, despite the fact that Molly worshipped beside him for the first time, he was ill at ease. Victor had excused himself from attend

ed. "Griffin promised to communicate with you at

n to-morrow morning, when I shall first call upon my own solicitor, to whom I have already written, and afterward attend the

the others to go on ahead. "I am going to put a question to you which may

sure will not offend me," said Godfr

u see I am going to be perfectly candid with you. You may think me absurd when

and we have been companions ever since. He may be a little cynical in his humour, and inclined to be a

was silent

hat when he was looking at you and you were not watching him, there was a curious expression upon his face that was either one of malice or something very like it. I

r has not seen Teresina since the day we left England. It was he who induced me to get rid of her because he was afraid

's failing, and I still adhere to my opinion concerning the gentleman in question. Whether I am

thing," said Godfrey. "We sha

Will you allow me to accompany you? Remember that, as you are going

of you. I am sure it will make Molly happier to know that you are with me, while it will prove to the world, if su

s otherwise would be insane. And now we turn off here. It is agreed, therefore, t

turned off with his wife at the path that led across the fields to the court.

ide you, the newspapers will not

is life Godfrey felt a vague

ver, as being not only dishonourabl

s," he muttered, "and I should surely be

no ill of the man, he felt that th

ged his mind, he asserted, and had not gone for a walk after all. He certainly did not look well. His face was paler than usual, while he was

frey looks disgustingly fit, and more like the ideal country squir

had known for so long, whom he had trusted so implicitly, and for whom he had done so much, was no longer well disposed toward himself. He said nothing, however, for Victor was not only his

not show it, I have an idea he is as much cut up by this terrible business as I am myself. He is very highly strung, and the shock has doubtless proved too much for his

ling, and that he had stated his desi

er, do not let us talk about him just now. Can you realiz

ble affair has thrown such a shadow over our happiness for th

ered. "Then we will go to the sunny

ay night, Teresina's piteous face had been before him, and now with the recollection of what had followed so close upon their

ams. He saw himself in a garret room with Teresina kneeling before him holding up her hands in piteous entreaty; then he saw her lying dead upon the floor, her glassy eyes looking up at him as if in mute reproac

other's face frightened him. It was as white as paper, while i

do. I have had such dreams to-night that I dare not even close my eyes. For God's sake give me brandy!

s, he went off to procure some. When he returned he found Victor seated on th

I have really had a deuce of a fright. You don't know what awful dre

dfrey noticed that, though he pretended t

eeling better," he said. "Drink some o

his world of whose society I am heartily sick, it is Victor Fensden. Now I'll go back

turned to his own room, leaving Godfrey to put wh

n his head," said the latter to himself as he blew out his can