Unable any longer to suffer the torment of unrelieved suspense, he had returned to make inquiry at the house.

As he interpreted the otherwise inexplicable neglect of his instructions, the last chance of saving the child's life had failed, and his wife had been afraid to tell him the dreadful truth.
After an interval, he rose and went into the library.
It was empty, like the drawing-room.

The bell was close by him.

He lifted his hand to ring it--and drew back.

As brave a man as ever lived, he knew what fear was now.