Yes, he would ‘report himself’, but not until he had seen Sibyl.  To that end he must go home and wait there.  The people at Wimbledon, who doubtless would communicate with the police, might cause him to be arrested before his wife’s return.  He feared this much more than what was to follow.  Worse than anything that could befall him would be to lose the opportunity of speaking in private with Sibyl before she knew what had happened.

In the early hours of the morning he lay down upon his bed and had snatches of troubled sleep.  Knowing that he was wrong in the particular surmise which led him to Redgrave’s house, Sibyl’s absence no longer disturbed him with suspicions; a few hours would banish from his mind the last doubt of her, if any really remained.  He had played the madman, bringing ruin upon himself and misery incalculable upon his wife, just because that thieving woman lied to him.  She, of course, had made her speedy escape; and was it not as well?  For, if the whole story became known, what hope was there that Sibyl would come out of it with untarnished fame?  Merely for malice’ sake, the woman would repeat and magnify her calumnies.  If she successfully concealed herself, it might be possible to avoid a mention of Sibyl’s name.  He imagined various devices for this purpose, his brain plotting even when he slept.

To Alma Rolfe he gave scarcely a thought.  If the worst were true of her, Rolfe had only to thank his own absurdity, which allowed such a conceited simpleton to do as she chose.  The case looked black against her.  Well, she had had her lesson, and in that quarter could come to no more harm.  What sort of an appearance was she likely to make at Prince’s Hall today? —­ feather-headed fool!

Before five o’clock the sunlight streamed into his bedroom.  Sparrows twittered about the window, and somewhere close by, perhaps in a neighbour’s flat, a caged throstle piped as though it were in the fields.  Then began the street noises, and Hugh could lie still no longer.  Remembering that at any moment his freedom might come to an end, he applied himself to arranging certain important matters.  The housemaid came upon him with surprise; he bade her get breakfast, and, when the meal was ready, partook of it with moderate appetite.

The postman brought letters; nothing of interest for him, and for Sibyl only an envelope which, as one could feel, contained a mere card of invitation.  But soon after nine o’clock there arrived a telegram.  It was from Sibyl herself, and —­ from Weymouth.

’Why are you not here?  She died yesterday.  If this reaches you, reply at once.’

He flung the scrap of paper aside and laughed.  Of all natural explanations, this, of course, had never occurred to him.  Yesterday’s telegram told of Mrs. Larkfield’s serious condition, and Sibyl had started at once for Weymouth, expecting to meet him there.  One word of hers to the servant and he would simply have followed her.  But Sibyl saw no necessity for that word.  She was always reserved with domestics.