She turned upon me with a look I have been trying ever since to explain to myself, and begged me not to take her out of town to-night but to some quiet hotel where we might rest for a few days before starting on our travels.

She looked me squarely in the eye as she made this request and, seeing in her nothing more than a feverish anxiety lest I should make difficulties of some kind, I promised to do what she asked and bade her run away and get herself ready to go and say nothing to any one of our change of plan.

She smiled and turned away towards her own room, but presently came hurrying back to ask if I would grant her one more favor.

Would I be so good as not to speak to her or expect her to speak to me till we got to the hotel; she was feeling very nervous but was sure that a few minutes of complete rest would entirely restore her; something had occurred (she acknowledged this) which she wanted to think out; wouldn't I grant her this one opportunity of doing so?
It was a startling request, but she looked so lovely--pardon me, I must explain my easy acquiescence--that I gave her the assurance she wished and went about my own preparations, somewhat disconcerted but still not at all prepared for what happened afterward.

I had absolutely no idea that she meant to leave me." Mr.Ransom paused, greatly affected; but upon the detective asking him how and when Mrs.Ransom had deserted him, he controlled himself sufficiently to say: "Here; immediately after that silent and unnatural ride.