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886 WILD MARGARET.
_ Austin Ambrose rose and slipped the bolt in the door.
‘*- You were mad to come down here!”’ he exclaimed in a
low and angry voice. ,
‘Tam very.sorry,’’ said the detective, humbly; ‘‘ but
you told me to let you know immediately if I got a clew,
and I don’t like writing; there’s no knowing wherea piece
of paper will go to.”’
‘*Well—well!’ said Austin Ambrose. ‘' Now tell me
as quickly as you can,”’ and he sank into the chair with
an affectation of indifference which the close compression
of his hands and the glint of his dark eyes belied.
The detective took a note-book from his pocket.
* First of all, sir, ’ve to admit that you were right and
Iwas wrong. The young lady was not drowned on that
rock, and you were right in supposing that the Days had
a hand in getting her away—not that I got any inforina-
tion from them; T’ll do them that credit. Close as wax,
both of ’em. I traced them down to Cardiff, and lodged
in their house for a fortmght; but if I’d stayed twenty
ears, I don’t believe I'd have got any light on the matter.
fit hadn’t been for an accident I’m afraid I should still
be in the dark. If it hadn’t been for spending the even-
ing with the second mate of the Rose of Devon, I shouldn’t
have earned my money, Mr. Ambrose. J’ve had some
tough business to do for you now and again, but this was
the very toughest I ever had in hand.”
- Austin Ambrose sat perfectly still, and apparently
patient, but his hands closed and unclosed with a spas-
modic movement.
‘*¥rom this sailor I discovered that the Rose had picked
up the Days and a young lady one night, off the Devon
coast, and an extra glass of brandy induced him to admit
that she’d sailed in the Rose to Brest. At Brest I found
that my man was correct. The Rose did have a lady on
board. Two persons saw her land, and noticed her, a9
French people will! One of them, the’ harbor-master,
could even give mea description of her. There itis; you'll
know best whether there can be any doubt!”
Austin Ambrose did not snatch the paper out of his hand,
but let it lie on the table for a.second or two, then he took
it up and read. it, and, self-possessed as he was, could not
help an exclamation of triumph.
“Itisshe! Sheisalive! Well?” he demanded, quietly;
go on!”
‘Well, sir,” said the detective, ‘having made certain’
of the young lady’s being still in the land of the living, I
Rested straight off for England. Your instructions were,
r. Ambrose, that I was to come to you the moment I