high-priest of sudden death? Temporary insanity, that was what they called it, temporary
Again his eye caught sight of the telephone. With a quick movement he caught up the receiver and, without pausing to think, gave the number of the Belle Vue. He would tell Lola everything. She would understand. He would work, yes, work and carry-on.
A minute later he replaced the receiver upon its rest with a jar. She was still away. She had gone away—to avoid him.
During the previous fortnight he had telephoned time after time—always to receive the same reply, that Miss Craven had gone away for a few days, or that Miss Craven had not returned. He had written twice; but again no reply. It had really been a nine days' wonder, he had told himself a dozen times, and this was the end.
What he had done during that fortnight he did not know. He was conscious of having gone out from time to time for meals; but for the rest, he was afraid of leaving the place, lest in his absence a message should come through from Lola. The porter had come to regard him curiously, so persistent had been his enquiries as to whether or no the man had received and forgotten some telephone-message he felt sure she must have sent.
He had given instructions that letters were to be taken up to him immediately. He seemed to live in a constant state of expectation. The telephone-bell caused him to start violently, the sound of the
