"I who have so much at stake!" The detective evidently thought the occasion called for whatever comfort it was in his power to bestow.
"Yes," said he.

"For it is here she will seek you if she takes a notion to return.

But woman is an uncertain quantity," he dryly added.
At that moment the telephone bell rang.

Mr.Ransom leaped to answer; but the call was only an anxious one from the Fultons, who wanted to know what news.

He answered as best he could, and was recrossing disconsolately to his chair when voices rose in the hall, and a man was ushered in, whom Gerridge immediately introduced as Mr.Sims.
A runner--and with news! Mr.Ransom, summoning up his courage, waited for the inevitable question and reply.