For all of themthe garden had disappeared with its
sunlight and its roses and itssinging birds. Monsieur, it should be in the locked
cabinet in my sitting - room.
She reappeared uponthe steps with a largish
envelope in her hand and quickly rejoined thegroup. Bettys tightly clenchedhand
opened and her trifle of a handkerchief fluttered down on the grass. Therefollowed a
moment of silence, of discouragement.
Ann pointed to the wing on the left of thehall and
towards the road.
There was not a glimmer of light anywhere.
Mademoiselle, said Hanaud gently, thoughthese photographs tell their unhappy story
clearly enough.
Jims satisfaction increased with every answer he
received.
One never knew what wasgoing to happen in this
house. There was not a glimmer of light anywhere. Therefollowed a moment of silence,
of discouragement. They were upon that staircase with Ann Upcott in the
blacknight.
Bettys tightly clenchedhand opened and her trifle
of a handkerchief fluttered down on the grass. Jim was not quite surethat a tiny
accent of irony had not pointed Hanauds words.
MadameHarlowe, during the last years of her life,
drank?
Betty had raisedher face and was staring at Ann
with her mouth parted.
We did our best to keep our secret, but we could
never be surethat we had succeeded. Like the practice of some abominable
art.
I touched the wall first, Ann resumed, just at the
angle of thecorridor and the hall. By answering me one simple question, he
said.
For a momentI stood back from it, but once the door
was open I heard nothing.