"The letter was no doubt removed purposely. This would destroy all
trace of its origin. It was evidently a snare, a bait to lure the
poor lord on shore," said one _attache_ to another.
"It is curious that he should have been so ready to swallow it."
"There must have been something peculiarly persuasive in the letter."
"But we have heard that he was much distressed, or annoyed, at
receiving it."
"Persuasive in a good or bad sense--probably the latter. At any rate,
it was sufficient to lure him on shore."
"Of course there is something beneath all this: some intrigue,
perhaps."
"The old story, 'who is she?' I suppose."
"But I thought he was devoted to his cousin, the fair Mrs. Wilders."
"Is she still in Constantinople?"
"Yes, I think so. Still at Misseri's, I believe."
"I wonder whether she has yet heard about this horrible affair. Some
one ought to break it to her."
But no one was needed for a task from which all shrank, with not
unnatural hesitation. While they still talked, a message was brought
in to the effect that Mrs. Wilders was in the antechamber, and her
first words, when one of the _attaches_ joined her, plainly showed
that she had heard of Lord Lydstone's death.
"What a horrible, frightful business!" she said, in a voice broken
with emotion.
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