she felt well enough to start upon the journey we had meditated.
Instantly her manner changed. She turned upon me with a look I have been
trying ever since to explain to myself, and begged me not to take her out
of town to-night but to some quiet hotel where we might rest for a few
days before starting on our travels. She looked me squarely in the eye as
she made this request and, seeing in her nothing more than a feverish
anxiety lest I should make difficulties of some kind, I promised to do
what she asked and bade her run away and get herself ready to go and say
nothing to any one of our change of plan. She smiled and turned away
towards her own room, but presently came hurrying back to ask if I would
grant her one more favor. Would I be so good as not to speak to her or
expect her to speak to me till we got to the hotel; she was feeling very
nervous but was sure that a few minutes of complete rest would entirely
restore her; something had occurred (she acknowledged this) which she
wanted to think out; wouldn't I grant her this one opportunity of doing
so? It was a startling request, but she looked so lovely--pardon me, I
must explain my easy acquiescence--that I gave her the assurance she
wished and went about my own preparations, somewhat disconcerted but
still not at all prepared for what happened afterward. I had absolutely
no idea that she meant to leave me."

Mr. Ransom paused, greatly affected; but upon the detective asking him
how and when Mrs. Ransom had deserted him, he controlled himself
sufficiently to say:

"Here; immediately after that silent and unnatural ride. She entered the
office with me and was standing close at my side all the time I was
writing our names in the register; but later, when I turned to ask her to
enter the elevator with me, she was gone, and the boy who was standing by
with our two bags said that she had slipped into the reception-room
across the hall. But I didn't find her there or in any of the adjoining
rooms. Nor has anybody since succeeded in finding her. She has left the
building--left me, and--"

"You want her back again?"

This from the detective, but very dryly.

"Yes. For she was not following her own inclinations in thus abandoning
me so soon after the words which made us one were spoken. Some influence
was brought to bear on her which she felt unable to resist. I have
confidence enough in her to believe that. The rest is mystery--a mystery
which I am forced to ask y