"
"How would the city do? That's nice and private."
A faint laugh came to his ear. "Yes; but where?"
Rivington briefly considered.
"St. Paul's Cathedral, under the dome, three o'clock. Will that do?"
"Yes, I'll be there. You won't fail?"
"Not if I live," said Rivington. "Anything else?"
"No; only a million thanks! I'll explain everything when we meet."
"All right. Good-bye!"
As he hung up the receiver, a heavy frown drove the kindliness out of
his face.
"What have they been doing to the child?" he said. "It's a pretty
desperate step for a girl to take. At least it might be, it would be, if
I were any one else."
Suddenly the smile came back and drew afresh the kindly, humorous lines
about his eyes.
"She seems to remember me rather well," he murmured. "She certainly was
a jolly little kid."
III
THE LADY IN DISTRESS
The afternoon sunlight streamed golden through the cathedral as Cecil
Rivington passed into its immense silence. He moved with quiet and
leisurely tread; it was not his way to hurry. The great clock was just
booming the hour.
There were not many people about. A few stray footsteps wandered through
the stillness, a few vague whispers floated to and fro. But the peace of
the place lay like a spell, a dream atmosphere in which every sound was
hushed.
Rivington passed down the nave till he reached the central space under
the great dome.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271