’Show me the way to that house.  Come along, there’s no time to lose.  Adela!’ he called, ’I have to go out; can’t say when I shall be back.  Don’t sit up if I’m late.’

A hansom bore the brothers southwards as fast as hansom could go.

They found Clara in the house, a haggard, frenzied woman.  Already she had been to the police, but they were not inclined to hurry matters; she had no satisfactory evidence to give them.  To Mutimer, when he had explained his position, she told everything—­of her marriage in London nine years ago, her going with her husband to America, his desertion of her.  Richard took her at once to the police-station.  They would have to attend at the court next morning to swear an information.

By ten o’clock Mutimer was at Waterloo, taking train for Wimbledon.  At Rodman’s house he found darkness, but a little ringing brought Alice herself to the door.  She thought it was her husband, and, on recognising Richard, all but dropped with fear; only some ill news could explain his coming thus.  With difficulty he induced her to go into a room out of the hall.  She was in her dressing-gown, her long beautiful hair in disorder, her pretty face white and distorted.

‘What is it, Dick? what is it, Dick?’ she kept repeating mechanically, with inarticulate moanings between.  She had forgotten her enmity against her brother and spoke to him as in the old days.  He, too, was all kindness.

’Try and keep quiet a little, Alice.  I want to talk to you.  Yes, it’s about your husband, my poor girl; but there’s nothing to be frightened at.  He’s gone away, that’s all.  I want you to come to London with me.’

She had no more control over herself than a terrified child; her words and cries were so incoherent that Mutimer feared lest she had lost her senses.  She was, in truth, on the borders of idiocy.  It was more than half-an-hour before, with the servant’s assistance, he could allay her hysterical anguish.  Then she altogether refused to accompany him.  If she did so she would miss her husband; he would not go without coming to see her.  Richard was reminded by the servant that it was too late to go by train.  He decided to remain in the house through the night.

He had not ventured to tell her all the truth, nor did her state encourage him to do so in the morning.  But he then succeeded in persuading her to come with him; Rodman, he assured her, must already be out of England, for he had committed a criminal offence and knew that the police were after him.  Alice was got to the station more dead than alive; they were at home in Holloway by half-past ten.  Richard then left her in Adela’s hands and sped once more to Brixton.

He got home again at two.  As he entered Adela came down the stairs to meet him.

‘How is she?’ he asked anxiously.

’The same.  The doctor was here an hour ago.  We must keep her as quiet as possible.  But she can’t rest for a moment.’