The doctor shrugged his shoulders. He was busy making bandages. Lady
Ruth rose to her feet. She was white and giddy. The commissionaire and
Morrison were talking together at the door. The latter turned to Lady
Ruth.
"Do you think that we had better send for the police, your ladyship?"
he asked. "It was the young man who came in with Mr. Wingrave who must
have done this! I thought he was a very wild-looking sort of person."
"You heard what Mr. Wingrave said," she answered. "I don't think that
I should disobey him, if I were you. The doctor says that, after all,
it is not very serious."
"He can't have got far," the hall porter remarked. "He only slipped
out as we came in."
"I should let him go for the present," Lady Ruth said. "If Mr.
Wingrave wishes to prosecute afterwards, it will be easy for him to do
so."
She stepped back to where Wingrave lay. He was in a recumbent position
now and, although a little pale, he was obviously not seriously hurt.
"If there is nothing else that I can do," she said, "I will go now!"
"By all means," Wingrave answered. "I am exceedingly obliged to you
for your kindness," he added a little stiffly. "Morrison, show Lady
Barrington to her carriage!"
She spoke a few conventional words of farewell and departed. Outside
on the pavement she stood for a moment, looking carefully around.
There was no sign of Richardson anywhere! She stepped into the
carriage and leaned back in the corner.
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