"Is Mr. Julian Gray here?" he asked.
Julian led Grace to a seat. Her eyes were fixed on the man. She
trembled--she whispered, "Who is he?" Julian spoke to the police officer
without answering her.
"Wait there," he said, pointing to a chair in the most distant corner of
the room. "I will speak to you directly."
The man advanced to the chair, marching to the discord of his creaking
boots. He privately valued the carpet at so much a yard as he walked
over it. He privately valued the chair at so much the dozen as he sat
down on it. He was quite at his ease: it was no matter to him whether he
waited and did nothing, or whether he pried into the private character
of every one in the room, as long as he was paid for it.
Even Lady Janet's resolution to act for herself was not proof against
the appearance of the policeman in plain clothes. She left it to her
nephew to take the lead. Julian glanced at Mercy before he stirred
further in the matter. He alone knew that the end rested now not with
him but with her.
She felt his eye on her while her own eyes were looking at the man. She
turned her head--hesitated--and suddenly approached Julian. Like Grace
Roseberry, she was trembling. Like Grace Roseberry, she whispered, "Who
is he?"
Julian told her plainly who he was.
"Why is he here?"
"Can't you guess?"
"No!"
Horace left Lady Janet, and joined Mercy and Julian--impatient of the
private colloquy between them.
"Am I in the way?" he inquired.
Julian drew back a little, understanding Horace perfectly. He looked
round at Grace. Nearly the whole length of the spacious room divided
them from the place in which she was sitting. She had never moved
since he had placed her in a chair. The direst of all terrors was in
possession of her--terror of the unknown. There was no fear of her
interfering, and no fear of her hearing what they said so long as
they were careful to speak in guarded tones. Julian set the example by
lowering his voice.
"Ask Horace why the police officer is here?" he said to Mercy.
She put the question directly. "Why is he here?"
Horace looked across the room at Grace, and answered, "He is here to
relieve us of that woman."
"Do you mean that he will take her away?"
"Yes."
"Where will he take her to?"
"To the police station."
Mercy started, and looked at Julian. He was still watching the slightest
changes in her face. She looked back again at Horace.
"To the police station!" she repeated. "What for?"
"How can you ask the question?" said Horace, irritably. "To be placed
under restraint, of course."