Edgar Wallace

“ Anger and amusement struggled for expression, but Margaret's sense of humour won, and she laughed long and silently all the way to her office.
Soon after this Mr. Ravini disappeared. So also did Olga. Margaret saw them coming into the hall about eleven, and the girl looked paler than usual and sweeping past her without a word, ran up the stairs. Margaret surveyed the young man curiously. His face was flushed, his eyes of an unusual brightness.
"I'm going up to town to-morrow," he said. "Early train—you needn't 'phone for a cab. I can walk down the hill." ”

“ She heard a sound, a curious muffled sound ... sobbing ... a man! And then the voice ceased. Her heart racing madly, she stood by the door, her ear to the panel, listening, but no other sound came. She spent the rest of the night sitting up in bed, a quilt about her shoulders, listening, listening...
Day broke greyly; the sun came up. She lay down and fell asleep. It was the maid bringing tea that woke her, and, getting out of bed, she opened the door.... Something attracted her attention.
"A nice morning, miss," said the fresh-faced country girl brightly.
Margaret nodded. ”

“ He was almost incoherent.
"You're tired of Larmes Keep?"
"Eh? Tired? No, by God, I'm not! This is the place for me!"
He smoothed back his dark hair and she saw his hand trembling so much that the Luck Stones flickered and flashed like fire. ”