The Argosy — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The White Witch. 15 myself could make head or tail of it had I not chanced to be in Rome. I went to Rome after a bank clerk who had absconded, and reached it a few days after your son’s murder. [I found out all I could about it just by professional instinct ; and I should have found out a good deal more if I had not had to follow my own man to New York. But that you had already again left Rome, Sir William, I might have . been able to put you on the right track there and then.” Sir William touched the officer. ‘‘ What did you find out?” he asked. “JT found out what Mr. Hunt’s habits had been, sir, and who he was mostly seen with. His tutor was a young man of the name of Robertson, who wore glasses.” “Yes, yes. Well?” *‘T found out that Mr. Hunt had had a quarrel with one of his companions on the night of his death: it was about a young lady, I believe: he and she both disappeared after the murder, and were never traced.” “Did you see that companion of my son’s?” eagerly questioned Sir William. . **T saw a likeness of him,” replied the detective. ‘‘ He was painted as a young, fair, slight man, looking almost like a boy. I learnt that he had been regarded in Rome as an idle, worthless sort of young chap, with persuasive manners and a way of getting round people.” ** Ay ay,” assented Sir William with emotion. ‘“ You have not told me your name. What is it?” The answer was given in too low a tone to reach Godfrey. Some stir occurred just then at the hall door: three or four young men, heated with dancing, came out. Sir William and his companion both turned their heads that way to look. *“We had better walk about a little,” whispered Sir William. They stole away, under the dark shade of the trees, in the contrary direction to that in which Godfrey was standing, and were lost to his view. Godfrey had not obtained a clear view of the detective officer, or heard his voice above a whisper; yet a suspicion, alarming and disagreeable, had arisen in his mind. Rather miserable and very anxious, he returned to the ball-room to receive another shock. The next dance on the programme was a waltz, which Mary had promised to him, so he went in search of her through the rooms; but he could not find her, and he noticed that Ernest Underwood was missing too. He returned to the hall just in time to see Mary, her face disfigured by tears, come out of the library, flit across to the staircase, and run up. Wondering what could be amiss, he went to the foot of the stairs to await her return and to claim her hand for his promised dance. Ernest, violently excited, had followed her out of the library and run up a few steps after her, bidding her make haste ; coming down again, he faced Godfrey. - “The next dance is mine,” said the latter, rather stiffly. Gomichboo (E@) m