“No; I do not know.”

“You seem to take this desertion or this death very quietly.”

“What would be gained by taking it any other way?” she murmured, though indeed she was not taking the situation quietly, but controlling herself.

“How dare you say so to me?” severely demanded the old man, scarcely able to control his wrath, though at a loss to know against whom to direct it.

“You ask me a direct question.  I give you a truthful answer.”

“Answer me, truly!” rudely exclaimed Aaron Rockharrt, giving way, in his blind egotism, to utter recklessness of assertion, to gross injustice and exaggeration.  “What have you done to him, Corona?  Tell me that!”

She started violently and looked up quickly; her face was whiter, her eyes wilder than before.

“What—­have—­you—­done to him?” he sternly repeated, looking her full in the deathly face.

“I?  Nothing!” she answered, but her voice faltered and her frame shook.

“I believe that you have!  You look as if you had!  I have seen the devil in you since we brought you home from Europe against your will; especially within the last few days!”

Having hurled upon her this avalanche of abuse, he turned and strode wrathfully up and down the room until he had got off some of his excitement.  Then, he came and stood before his granddaughter.

“How long has your husband been missing?” he abruptly inquired.

“Since last night,” in a very low tone.

“When did you see him last?  Tell me that!”

“I have already told you—­last evening.”

“Tell me all that has occurred from the time you both left Rockhold to the time you entered this house which I placed at your disposal and to which I sent you, to save you from the noise and bustle and excitement of a crowded hotel, and to give you rest and quiet and seclusion.  Yes! and this the result!  But go on and tell me.  From the time you left Rockhold to this time, mind you!”

“Very well, sir, I will tell you.  Our journey, a series of ovations.  Our reception in this city was a triumph.  We were met at the depot by a great crowd, and by the committee with carriages, and we were escorted to this house by a military and civil procession with a band of music.  They left us at the gate.

“We entered, and were received by the servants.  As soon as I had changed my dress we went down to dinner.  After dinner we went into the drawing room.  A gentleman was announced on official business connected with the ceremonies of to-day.  He was shown into the library, and my husband went to him.  Many callers came.  They talked with Mr. Rothsay in the library.  I remained in this room.  At last the crowd began to thin off, and soon all were gone.  Mr. Rothsay came into this room—­and sat down by my side.  We talked together for an hour or more.  Then a card was brought in.  Mr. Rothsay took it, looked at it, and said: