Stella said nothing at all on the way back home. The bandit theory could only have been stated so naturally by the miserable man.

When Stella got home, she remarked in a quiet voice to Mr. Conrad, "I'll go upstairs and go to bed.”

Clarence merely hummed coldly, as if he was unwilling to communicate with her in any way. That was the real color of this miserable man.

Stella went back to her room and shut the door from the inside. She then grabbed her clothing and went to the restroom. She had gone on numerous walks with Clarence and had not napped in the afternoon. All she wanted...