“Then,” Mrs. Warren answered, “it is the most Extraordinary Case we have had yet.”

“But I have sworn fealty to her,” was Warren’s conclusion.  “And she will tell me more later.”  He shook his head with an air of certainty.  “Yes, she will feel it necessary to tell me later.”

They went upstairs to dress for dinner, and during the remainder of the evening which they spent alone they talked almost entirely of the matter.

Chapter Twenty

Lady Walderhurst’s departure from Palstrey, though unexpected, had been calm and matter-of-fact.  All the Osborns knew was that she had been obliged to go up to London for a day or two, and that when there, her physician had advised certain German baths.  Her letter of explanation and apology was very nice.  She could not return to the country before beginning her journey.  It seemed probable that she would return with her husband, who might arrive in England during the next two months.

“Has she heard that he is coming back?” Captain Osborn asked his wife.

“She has written to ask him to come.”

Osborn grinned.

“He will be obliged to her.  He is tremendously pleased with his importance at this particular time, and he is just the sort of man—­as we both know—­to be delighted at being called back to preside over an affair which is usually a matter for old women.”

But the letter he had examined, as it lay with the rest awaiting postal, he had taken charge of himself.  He knew that one, at least, would not reach Lord Walderhurst.  Having heard in time of the broken bridge-rail, he had been astute enough to guess that the letter written immediately after the incident might convey such impressions as might lead even his lordship to feel that it would be well for him to be at home.  The woman had been frightened, and would be sure to lose her head and play the fool.  In a few days she would calm down and the affair would assume smaller proportions.  At any rate, he had chosen to take charge of this particular letter.

What he did not know, however, was that chance had played into his hands in the matter of temporarily upsetting Lord Walderhurst’s rather unreliable digestion, and in altering his plans, by a smart, though not dangerous, attack of fever which had ended in his being ordered to a part of the hill country not faithfully reached by letters; as a result of which several communications from his wife went astray and were unduly delayed.  At the time Captain Osborn was discussing him with Hester, he was taking annoyed care of himself with the aid of a doctor, irritated by the untoward disturbance of his arrangements, and giving, it is true, comparatively little thought to his wife, who, being comfortably installed at Palstrey Manor, was doubtless enjoyably absorbed in little Mrs. Osborn.

“What German baths does she intend going to?” Alec Osborn inquired.