"Ah, dear child, you are back then," he greeted her. "Well, how
have you enjoyed yourself? Had a pleasant time?"
"It was not for pleasure we went there, I think," she said
listlessly.
He looked up quickly, and though his perpetual smile still played
as usual about his lips, his eyes were hard and daunting as they
fixed themselves on hers. Before that sinister stare her own eyes
sank, and sought the little travelling set of chessmen and board
that were before him.
"See," he said, "I've just brought off a mate. Neat isn't it?
Checkmate."
She looked up at him, and her eyes were steadier now.
"I've only one thing to say to you," she said. "I came here to say
it. If anything happens at Wreste Abbey I shall go straight to the
police."
"Indeed," he said, "indeed." He fingered the chessmen as though all
his attention were engaged by them. "May I ask why?" he murmured.
"For what purpose?"
"To tell them," she answered quietly, "what I--know."
"And what do you know?" he asked indifferently. "What do you know
that is likely to interest the police?"
"I ought to have said, perhaps," she answered after a pause, "what
I suspect."
"Ah, that's so different, isn't it?" he murmured gently. "So very
different. You see we all of us suspect so many things."
She did not answer, for she had said all she had to say and she was
afraid that her strength would not carry her further.
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