Yet I believe--I am sure--I have done right."
"I am sure of that," I said, and then was silent as her words called up
the image of the Wolf, dark, forbidding, glowing with the fires of
hate--the Wolf of the lantern-flash in the alley and the dens of
Chinatown--and the mystery seemed deeper than ever. The carriage had
been rolling along swiftly. Despite the rain the streets were smooth
and hard, and we made rapid progress. We had crossed a bridge, and with
many turns made a course toward the southeast. Now the ground became
softer, and progress was slow. An interminable array of trees lined the
way on both sides, and to my impatient imagination stretched for miles
before us. Then the road became better, and the horses trotted briskly
forward again, their hoofs pattering dully on the softened ground.
"All the better," I thought. "It's as good as a muffler if any one is
listening for us."
"Here's the place," came the voice of Dicky, giving directions to the
driver; and the carriage slackened pace and stopped. Looking out I saw
that we were at a division of the road where a two-story house faced
both of the branching ways.
"You'd better come out," said Dicky at the door, addressing his remark
to me. "He was to meet us here."
"Be careful," cautioned Mrs. Knapp.
The night had turned colder, or I was chilled by the inaction of the
ride. The sky was clearing, and stars were to be seen. By the outline
of the hills we had made to the south.
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