And in the darkness there came a sound of subdued sobbing.  It lasted for some minutes—­ceased—­for some minutes was again audible.  Then silence fell upon the chamber.

Lying awake between seven and eight next morning, Rosamund heard the postman’s knock.  At once she sprang out of bed, slipped on her dressing-gown, and rang the bell.  Two letters were brought up to her; she received them with tremulous hand.  Both were addressed in writing, unmistakably masculine; the one was thick, the other was thin and this she opened first.

“Dear Miss Elvan”—­it was Warburton who wrote—­“I hoped to see you this evening, as we had appointed.  Indeed, I must see you, for, as you may imagine, I have much to say.  May I come to your house?  In any case, let me know place and hour, and let it be as soon as possible.  Reply at once, I entreat you.  Ever sincerely yours—­”

She laid it aside, and broke the other envelope.

“Dear, dearest Rosamund”—­thus began Norbert Franks—­“our talk this morning has left me in a state of mind which threatens frenzy.  You know I haven’t too much patience.  It is out of the question for me to wait a week for your answer, though I promised.  I can’t wait even a couple of days.  I must see you again to-morrow—­must, must, must.  Come to the same place, there’s a good, dear, sweet, beautiful girl!  If you don’t, I shall be in Oakley Crescent, breaking doors open, behaving insanely.  Come early—­”

And so on, over two sheets of the very best notepaper, with Norbert’s respectable address handsomely stamped in red at the top.  (The other missive was on paper less fashionable, with the address, sadly plebeian, in mere handwriting.) Having read to the end, Rosamund finished her dressing and went down to the sitting-room.  Breakfast was ready, but, before giving her attention to it, she penned a note.  It was to Warburton.  Briefly she informed him that she had decided to join her sister in the south of France, and that she was starting on the journey this morning.  Her address, she added, would be “c/o Mrs. Alfred Coppinger, St. Jean de Luz, Basses Pyrenees.”  And therewith she remained Mr. Warburton’s sincerely.

“Please let this be posted at once,” said Rosamund when the landlady came to clear away.

And posted it was.

CHAPTER 36

His hands upon the counter, Warburton stared at the door by which first Rosamund, then Bertha Cross, had disappeared.  His nerves were a-tremble; his eyes were hot.  Of a sudden he felt himself shaken with irresistible mirth; from the diaphragm it mounted to his throat, and only by a great effort did he save himself from exploding in laughter.  The orgasm possessed him for several minutes.  It was followed by a sense of light-heartedness, which set him walking about, rubbing his hands together, and humming tunes.

At last the burden had fallen from him; the foolish secret was blown abroad; once more he could look the world in the face, bidding it think of him what it would.