The Mission of Poubalov — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CORKROBORATIVE DETAIL, — 85 _ had such a time of it. Billings drove his own carriage. He wasn’t connected with any of the stables.”’ “I am glad to know that my search did not fail through any lack of thorough inquiry,’’ said Clara, and she felt her courage reviving. ‘‘Will you send word to this Mr. Billings that I would like to see him?”’ ‘‘Certainlv. When shall I tell him to call?’’ “Any time this evening. And, Mr. Bowker, can you not give me the name of the man who said he saw Mr. Strobel buy a ticket for New York?’’ ‘‘ITcannotdoso. The factis, we haven’tthe name, I _ expected to get it, honestly I did, for I heard that Strobel _ was recognized in the station by a friend; but that friend _hasn’t turned up; and, to tell you the plain truth, we don’t think it necessary to inquire for him.’’ *‘It seems to me——’’ began Clara, stopping and refiect- ing. She was going to protest against the imperfect char- acter of the investigation, but she thought better of it. This detective unquestionably had no interest to find other _ than the truth, and with his low conceptions of character, due doubtless to his frequent contact with criminals, it would be but natural for him to see no other explanation for Ivan’s disappearance than the one to substantiate - which he had obtained a certain amount of evidence. If even her good uncle were disposed to view the idea of the _ elopement as a possibility, nay, as a probability, what bet- _ ter could be expected of one to whom Ivan was merely a man like other men? Andthe evidence of the ‘‘second driver’’ which was undoubtedly straightforward—— Per- haps [van had gone to New York. How could she tell? Not with Lizzie White, of course, but—— She would talk | with the driver. **I shall be greatly obliged,’’ she concluded, ‘‘if you will _ send me word should any new development turn up. I : don’t suppose I can expect you to pay any further atten- tion to the case.”’ (E@ “We may hear from New York at any tima.’ tanvat