Walraven, with a
shudder of disgust; "and I think you will throw over your patients when
you hear the subject I want to talk about. That subject is--Mollie Dane!"
"Mollie!" The doctor was absorbed and vividly interested all at once.
"What of Mollie Dane?"
"This," lowering her voice: "I have found out the grand secret. I know
where that mysterious fortnight was spent."
"Blanche!" He leaned forward, almost breathless. "Have you? Where?"
"You'd never guess. It sounds too romantic--too incredible--for belief.
Even the hackneyed truism, 'Truth is stranger than fiction,' will hardly
suffice to conquer one's astonishment--yet true it is. Do you recollect
the Reverend Mr. Rashleigh's story at the dinner-party, the other
day--that incredible tale of his abduction and the mysterious marriage
of the two masks?"
"I recollect--yes."
"He spoke of the bride, you remember--described her as small and
slender, with a profusion of fair, curling hair."
"Yes--yes--yes!"
"Guy," fixing her powerful black eyes on his face, "do you need to be
told who that masked bride was?"
"Mollie Dane!" cried the doctor, impetuously.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193