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CHAPTER VII
QUESTION AND ANSWER
Dunn obeyed promptly。
There was that about this little fat； smiling man and his unsmiling
eyes which proclaimed very plainly that he was quite ready to put
his threat into execution。
For a moment or two they stood thus； each regarding the other very
intently。 Dunn； his hands in the air； the steady barrel of the
other's pistol levelled at his heart； knew that never in all his
adventurous life had he been in such deadly peril as now； and the
grotesque thought came into his mind to wonder if there were room
for two in that packing…case in the attic。
Or perhaps no attempt would be made to hide his death since； after
all； it is always permissible to shoot an armed burglar。
The clock on the stairs began to strike the hour； and he wondered if
he would still be alive when the last stroke sounded。
He did not much think so for he thought he could read a very deadly
purpose in the other's cold grey eyes； nor did he suppose that a man
with such a secret as that of the attic upstairs to hide was likely
to stand on any scruple。
And he thought that if he still lived when the clock finished striking
he would take it for an omen of good hope。
The last stroke sounded and died away into the silence of the night。
The revolver was still levelled at his heart； the grim purpose in
the other's eyes had not changed； and yet Dunn drew a breath of
deep relief as though the worst of the danger was past。
Through his mind； that had been a little dulled by the sudden
consciousness of so extreme a peril； thought began again to race
with more than normal rapidity and clearness。
It occurred to him； with a sense of the irony of the position； that
when he entered this house it had been with the deliberate intention
of getting himself discovered by the inmates； believing that to show
himself to them in the character of a burglar might gain him their
confidence。
It had seemed to him that so he might come to be accepted as one of
them and perhaps learn in time the secret of their plans。
The danger that they might adopt the other course of handing him
over to the police had not seemed to him very great； for he had his
reasons for believing that there would be no great desire to draw
the attention of the authorities to Bittermeads for any reason
whatever。
But the discovery he had made in the attic changed all that。 It
changed his plans； for now he could go to the police immediately。
And it changed also his conception of how these people were likely
to act。
Before； it had not entered his mind to suppose that he ran any
special risk of being shot at sight； but now he understood that the
only thing standing between him and instant death was the faint
doubt in his captor's mind as to how much he knew。
It seemed to him his only hope was to carry out his original plan
and try to pass himself off as the sort of person who might be
likely to be useful to the master of Bittermeads。
〃Don't shoot； sir；〃 he said； in a kind of high whine。 〃I ain't
done no harm； and it's a fair cop … and me not a month out of
Dartmoor Gaol。 I shall get a hot 'un for this； I know。〃
The little fat man did not answer； his eyes were as deadly； the
muzzle of his pistol as steady as before。
Dunn wondered if it were from that pistol had issued the bullet that
had drilled so neat and round a hole in his friend's forehead。 He
supposed so。
He said again
〃Don't shoot； Mr。 Deede Dawson； sir； I ain't done no harm。〃
〃Oh； you know my name； do you； you scoundrel？〃 Deede Dawson said；
a little surprised。
〃Yes； sir；〃 Dunn answered。 〃We always find out as much as we can
about a crib before we get to work。〃
〃I see；〃 said Mr。 Dawson。 〃Very praiseworthy。 Attention to
business and all that。 Pray； what did you find out about me？〃
〃Only as you was to be away tonight； sir；〃 answered Dunn。 〃And that
there didn't seem to be any other man in the house； and； of course；
how the house lay and the garden； and so。 But I didn't know as you
was coming home so soon。〃
〃No； I don't suppose you did；〃 said Deede Dawson。
〃I ain't done no harm；〃 Dunn urged； making his voice as whining and
pleading as he could。 〃I've only just been looking round the two
top floors … I ain't touched a thing。 Give a cove a chance； sir。〃
〃You've been looking round； have you？〃 said Deede Dawson slowly。
〃Did you find anything to interest you？〃
〃I've only been in the bedrooms and the attics；〃 answered Dunn；
changing not a muscle of his countenance and thinking boldness his
safest course； for he knew well the slightest sign or hint of
knowledge that he gave would mean his death。 〃I'd only just come
downstairs when you copped me； sir； I ain't touched a thing in one
of these rooms down here。〃
〃Haven't you？〃 said Deede Dawson slowly； and his face was paler；
his eyes more deadly； the muzzle of his pistol yet more inflexibly
steady than before。
More clearly still did Dunn realize that the faintest breath of
suspicion stirring in the other's mind that he knew of what was
hidden in the attic would mean certain death and just such another
neat little hole bored through heart or brain as that he had seen
showing in the forehead of his dead friend。〃
〃Haven't you； though？〃 Deede Dawson repeated。 〃The bedrooms … the
attics … that's all？〃
〃Yes； sir； that's all； take my oath that's all；〃 Dunn repeated
earnestly； as if he wished very much to impress on his captor that
he had searched bedrooms and attics thoroughly； but not these
downstairs rooms。
Deede Dawson was plainly puzzled； and for the first time a little
doubt seemed to show in his hard grey eyes。
Dunn perceived that a need was on him to know for certain whether
his dreadful secret had been discovered or not。
Until he had assured himself on that point Dunn felt comparatively
safe； but he still knew also that to allow the faintest suspicion
to dawn in Deede Dawson's mind would mean for him instant death。
He saw； too； watching very warily and ready to take advantage of
any momentary slip or forgetfulness； how steady was Deede Dawson's
hand； how firm and watchful his eyes。
With many men； with most men indeed； Dunn would have seized or made
some opportunity to dash in and attack； taking the chance of being
shot down first； since there are few indeed really skilled in the
use of a revolver； the most tricky if the most deadly of weapons。
But he realized he had small hope of taking unawares this fat
little smiling man with the unsmiling eyes and steady hand； and he
was well convinced that the first doubtful movement he made would
bring a bullet crashing through his brain。
His only hope was in delay and in diverting suspicion； and Deede
Dawson's voice was very soft and deadly as he said：
〃So you've been looking in the bedrooms； have you？ What did you
find there？〃
〃Nothing； sir； not a thing；〃 protested Dunn。 〃I didn't touch a
thing； I only wanted to look round before coming down here to see
about the silver。〃
〃And the attics？〃 asked Deede Dawson。 〃What did you find there？〃
〃There wasn't no one in them；〃 Dunn answered。 〃I only wanted to
make sure the young lady was