“‘I will see the gentleman.  Show him into the front room.’

“Mr. Rothsay arose and went into the front room to receive his visitor.  It was late, and I was very tired, so I went up stairs to my chamber and retired to bed.  I have never seen my husband since.”

And Corona dropped her face upon her hands and sobbed as if her heart would break.  She had utterly broken down for the first time.

“Good heavens!  I don’t understand it all!  Had you had a lover’s quarrel now in that hour when you talked together in this parlor?” inquired the old gentleman, his insane anger being now merged in wonder.  “Had you reproached him for spending so much time with his political friends while you were waiting here alone?”

“Oh, no, no,” replied Corona, between her convulsive sobs.

“Good heavens!” again exclaimed the old man.  “When did you first miss him?”

“When I came down in the morning.  I thought then that he had been kept up all night by his friends, and that I should meet him at breakfast.  He did not appear at breakfast.  The servants searched for him all over the house, but could not find him.  I waited breakfast until I was faint with fasting and suspense.  Then I took a cup of coffee.  On inquiry it was found that Jasper had been the last to see him, and that he had not seen him since he showed the visitor in.  He did not show the visitor out.  He waited some time to do so, and fell asleep.  When he awoke the visitor had gone, and the drawing rooms were empty.  The man supposed that Mr. Rothsay had seen his friend to the door, and had then retired to bed.  And so he shut up the house and went to his room.  No one discovered that Mr. Rothsay was missing until this morning.  When the inaugural committee came two hours ago, the servants told them all that I have just told you.”

“Who was the last visitor?  He might throw some light upon this dark, evil subject.  Who was he?” abruptly demanded Aaron Rockharrt.

“I do not know.  No one seems to know.  Jasper says he never saw him before, nor ever heard his name.”

“Couldn’t he see it on his card?”

“Jasper cannot read, you must remember.”

“Where is that card?  Let me see it!”

“It cannot be found.”

“Conspiracy!  Treason!  Murder!” interrupted Aaron Rockharrt.  “The governor-elect has been decoyed away from the house by that last caller, and has been murdered!  And the people in the house may not be as innocent or ignorant as they pretend to be.  I will go out and take counsel with the committee,” he said, and he turned and strode out of the drawing room.

When he reached the hall, however, he found that the officials had gone to pursue their search for the missing man elsewhere.  The men of his own party were nowhere to be seen.  The porter, Jasper, was the only occupant of the hall, and Aaron Rockharrt opened the hall door and walked out.  The military and civil escort were still on parade before the house, waiting for the governor-elect.