Studley out of the way,
either this morning or afternoon, and so manage matters for me that I
can be some little time alone in your room."

"Henry, Henry, how awestruck you look!" said a gay voice at the window.
Lady Studley had come out, had come round to the library window, and,
holding up her long, dark-blue velvet dress, was looking at us with a
peculiar smile.

"Well, my love," replied the baronet. He went to the window and flung it
open. "Lucilla," he exclaimed, "you are mad to stand on the damp grass."

"Oh, no, not mad," she answered. "I have come to that stage when nothing
matters. Is not that so, Dr. Halifax?"

"You are very imprudent," I replied.

She shook her finger at me playfully, and turned to her husband.

"Henry," she said, "have you taken my keys? I cannot find them
anywhere."

"I will go up and look for them," said Sir Henry. He left the room, and
Lady Studley entered the library through one of the French windows.

"What do you think of my husband this morning?" she asked.

"He is a little better," I replied. "I am confident that he will soon be
quite well again."

She gave a deep sigh when I said this, her lips trembled, and she turned
away. I thought my news would make her happy, and her depression
surprised me.

At this moment Sir Henry came into the room.

"Here are your keys," he said to his wife. He gave her the same bunch he
had given me the night before. I hoped she would not notice that the key
of the wardrobe was missing.

"And now I want you to come for a drive with me," said Sir Henry.

He did not often accompany her, and the pleasure of this unlooked-for
indulgence evidently tempted her.

"Very well," she answered. "Is Dr. Halifax coming?"

"No, he wants to have a ride."

"If he rides, can he not follow the carriage?"

"Will you do that, Halifax?" asked my host.

"No, thank you," I answered; "I must write some letters before I go
anywhere. I will ride to the nearest town and post them presently, if I
may." I left the room as I spoke.

Shortly afterwards I saw from a window Sir Henry and his wife drive
away. They drove in a large open landau, and two girls who were staying
in the house accompanied them. My hour had come, and I went up at once
to Sir Henry's bedroom. Lady Studley's room opened directly into that of
her husband, but both rooms had separate entrances.

I locked the two outer doors now, and then began my investigations. I
had the key of the wardrobe