That’sagoodgirl!NowyoushallhearhowIproposetosearchforthispoorlady，andhowyourlittlestoryhashelpedme。“
Hepaused，consideringwithhimselfwhetherheshouldbeginbytellingBlancheofhisconsultationwithGeoffrey。Oncemore，hedecidedthatquestioninthenegative。Bettertostilldefertakingherintohisconfidenceuntilhehadperformedtheerrandofinvestigationonwhichhewasnowsettingforth。
“Whatyouhavetoldme，Blanche，dividesitself，inmymind，intotwoheads，“beganSirPatrick。“Thereiswhathappenedinthelibrarybeforeyourowneyes；andthereiswhatMissSilvestertoldyouhadhappenedattheinn。Astotheeventinthelibraryinthefirstplace，itistoolatenowtoinquirewhetherthatfainting-fitwastheresult，asyousay，ofmereexhaustion——orwhetheritwastheresultofsomethingthatoccurredwhileyouwereoutoftheroom。“
“WhatcouldhavehappenedwhileIwasoutoftheroom？“
“Iknownomorethanyoudo，mydear。Itissimplyoneofthepossibilitiesinthecase，and，assuch，Inoticeit。Togetontowhatpracticallyconcernsus；ifMissSilvesterisindelicatehealthitisimpossiblethatshecouldget，unassisted，toanygreatdistancefromWindygates。Shemayhavetakenrefugeinoneofthecottagesinourimmediateneighborhood。Orshemayhavemetwithsomepassingvehiclefromoneofthefarmsonitswaytothestation，andmayhaveaskedthepersondrivingtogiveheraseatinit。Orshemayhavewalkedasfarasshecan，andmayhavestoppedtorestinsomeshelteredplace，amongthelanestothesouthofthishouse。“