The Caravan Crime by Fergus Hume — Read

It was in vain that Dick attempted to make Mrs. Tremby reveal what Randolph meant by his strange behaviour. All she would say was that Audrey had told her something of moment which had led her to afford the scamp a chance of escape, and that as soon as his confession was signed and witnessed an explanation would be given. Seeing that Mrs. Tremby was depressed and quite worn out, Lawson did not press the matter. But he passed a bad night after the lady left, since he felt that there was something very uncomfortable to be revealed. It concerned Audrey, perhaps her brother; but what it possibly could be Dick was unable to guess. Throughout the dark hours he tossed and turned on his bed, wooing sleep in vain, for the suspense was dreadful. He was quite haggard and sick with apprehension when he got up next morning.

A cold bath and a tolerably good breakfast, together with the early riding lesson he had to give his class, somewhat braced him. He returned to his rooms feeling very much better, and was changing his clothes when the landlady knocked at his bedroom door with the information that a lady wished to see him. Thinking it was Jossy, arriving to wait for Randolph and the promised confession, Dick was uplifted; actually whistling, when he finished dressing and opened the door of his bedroom to greet the lady. He stopped short at the sight of the very last person he expected to see.