CHAPTER XX
ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS
I ATE a light lunch at Bellwood, alone, with Bella to look after me in the dining-room. She was very solicitous, and when she had brought my tea, I thought she wanted to say something. She stood awkwardly near the door, and watched me.
“You needn’t wait, Bella,” I said.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but—I wanted to ask you—is Miss Fleming well?”
“She was not very well this morning, but I don’t think it is serious, Bella,” I replied. She turned to go, but I fancied she hesitated.
“Oh, Bella,” I called, as she was going out, “I want to ask you something. The night at the Fleming home, when you and I watched the house, didn’t you hear some person running along the hall outside your door? About two o’clock, I think?”
She looked at me stolidly.
“No, sir, I
