"
The moment he was out of the parlor Captain Wragge ascended the stairs
at the top of his speed and knocked at Magdalen's door. She opened it to
him in her walking-dress, obedient to the signal agreed on between them
which summoned her downstairs.
"What have you done with your paints and powders?" asked the captain,
without wasting a word in preliminary explanations. "They were not in
the box of costumes which I sold for you at Birmingham. Where are they?"
"I have got them here," replied Magdalen. "What can you possibly mean by
wanting them now?"
"Bring them instantly into my dressing-room--the whole collection,
brushes, palette, and everything. Don't waste time in asking questions;
I'll tell you what has happened as we go on. Every moment is precious to
us. Follow me instantly!"
His face plainly showed that there was a serious reason for his strange
proposal. Magdalen secured her collection of cosmetics and followed him
into the dressing-room. He locked the door, placed her on a chair close
to the light, and then told her what had happened.
"We are on the brink of detection," proceeded the captain, carefully
mixing his colors with liquid glue, and with a strong "drier" added from
a bottle in his own possession.
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