"
"I won't forget, sir; not that I think we're likely to hear any more of
them, they being gone straight off to America."
"Perhaps not. But if you do hear anything, let me know."
He had dismissed his cab on alighting in Coleman-street, believing that
his journey was ended; but the walk to Cavendish-square was a short one,
and he set out at a rapid pace.
The check that had befallen him was a severe one. It seemed a deathblow
to all hope, a dreary realization of that vague dread which had pursued
him from the first. If Marian had indeed started for America, what new
difficulties must needs attend every effort to bring her back; since it
was clear that her father's interests were involved in keeping her under
his influence, and separating her entirely from her husband. The journey
to New York was no doubt intended to secure this state of things. In
America, in that vast country, with which this man was familiar with long
residence, how easy for him to hide her for ever from her friends! how
vain would all inquiries, all researches be likely to prove!
At the ultimate moment, in the hour of hope and rejoicing, he was lost to
them irrevocably.
"Yet criminals have been traced upon the other side of the Atlantic,
where the police have been prompt to follow them," Gilbert said to
himself, glancing for an instant at the more hopeful side of the
question; "but not often where they've got anything like a start.
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