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position； but that he did not know how to do so。
〃You are a nice scoundrel；〃 said Deede Dawson suddenly； with an
indignation that seemed to Dunn largely assumed。 〃Treating a girl
like this。 Ella； what would you like done to him？ He deserves
shooting。 Shall I put a bullet through him for you？〃
〃He might have treated me worse； I suppose；〃
said Ella quietly。 〃And if you would be less indignant with him；
you might be more help to me。 There are scissors on the table
somewhere。
〃I'll get them；〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃I'11 get them；〃 he repeated；
as though now at last finally making up his mind。
He took the scissors from the toilet…table where they lay before
the looking…glass and cut the cords by which Ella was secured。
With a sigh of relief she straightened herself from the confined
position in which she had been held and began to rub her wrists；
which were slightly inflamed where the cords had bruised her soft
skin。
〃Like to tie him up that way now？〃 asked Deede Dawson。 〃You shall
if you like。〃
She turned and looked full at Dunn and he looked back at her with
eyes as steady and as calm as her own。
Again she showed that faint doubt and wonder which had flickered
through her level gaze before as though she felt that there was
more in all this than was apparent； and did not wish to condemn him
utterly without a hearing。
But it was plain also that she did not wish to say too much before
her stepfather and she answered carelessly
〃I don't think I could tie him tight enough； besides； he looks
ridiculous enough like that with his hands up in the air。〃
It was her revenge for what he had made her suffer。 He felt himself
flush and he knew that she knew that her little barbed shaft had
struck home。
〃Well； go and look through his pockets；〃 Deede Dawson said。 〃And
see if he's got a revolver。 Don't be frightened； if he lowers his
hands he'll be a dead man before he knows it。〃
〃He has a pistol；〃 she said。 〃He showed it me； it's in his coat
pocket。〃
〃Better get it then；〃 Deede Dawson told her。 She obeyed and brought
him the weapon； and he nodded with satisfaction as he put it in his
own pocket。
〃I think we might let you put your hands down now；〃 he remarked；
and Dunn gladly availed himself of the permission； for every muscle
in his arms was aching badly。
He remained standing by the wall while Deede Dawson； seating himself
on the chair to which Ella had been bound； rested his chin on his
left hand and； with the pistol still ready in his right； regarded
Dunn with a steady questioning gaze。
Ella was standing near the bed。 She had poured a few drops of
eau…de…Cologne on her wrists and was rubbing them softly； and for
ever after the poignant pleasant odour of the scent has remained
associated in Robert Dunn's mind with the strange events of that
night so that always even the merest whiff of it conjures up before
his mind a picture of that room with himself silent by the
fireplace and Ella silent by the bed and Deede Dawson； pistol in
hand； seated between them； as silent also as they； and very watchful。
Ella appeared fully taken up with her occupation and might almost
have forgotten the presence of the two men。 She did not look at
either of them； but continued to rub and chafe her wrists softly。
Deede Dawson had forgotten for once to smile； his brow was slightly
wrinkled； his cold grey eyes intent and watchful； and Dunn felt very
sure that he was thinking out some plan or scheme。
The hope came to him that Deede Dawson was thinking he might prove
of use； and that was the thought which； above all others； he wished
the other to have。 It was； indeed； that thought which all his
recent actions had been aimed to implant in Deede Dawson's mind
till his dreadful discovery in the attic had seemed to make at last
direct action possible。 How； in his present plight that thought；
if Deede Dawson should come to entertain it； might yet prove his
salvation。 Now and again Deede Dawson gave him quick； searching
glances； but when at last he spoke it was Ella he addressed。
〃Wrists hurt you much？〃 he asked。
〃Not so much now；〃 she answered。 〃They were beginning to hurt a
great deal； though。〃
〃Were they； though？〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃And to think you might
have been like that for hours if I hadn't chanced to come home。
Too bad； what a brute this fellow is。〃
〃Men mostly are； I think；〃 she observed indifferently。
〃And women mostly like to get their own back again；〃 he remarked
with a chuckle； and then turned sharply to Dunn。 〃Well； my man；〃
he asked； 〃what have you got to say for yourself？〃
〃Nothing；〃 Dunn answered。 〃It was a fair cop。〃
〃You've had a taste of penal servitude before； I suppose？〃 Deede
Dawson asked。
〃Maybe；〃 Dunn answered； as if not wishing to betray himself。
〃Maybe not。〃
〃Well； I think I remember you said something about not being long
out of Dartmoor；〃 remarked Deede Dawson。 〃How do you relish the
prospect of going back there？〃
〃I wonder；〃 interposed Ella thoughtfully。 〃I wonder what it is in
you that makes you so love to be cruel； father？〃
〃Eh what？〃 he exclaimed； quite surprised。 Who's being cruel？〃
〃You；〃 she answered。 〃You enjoy keeping him wondering what you are
going to do with him； just as you enjoyed seeing me tied to that
chair and would have liked to leave me there。〃
〃My dear Ella！〃 he protested。 〃My dear child！〃
〃Oh； I know；〃 she said wearily。 〃Why don't you hand the man over
to the police if you're going to； or let him go at once if you
mean to do that？〃
〃Let him go； indeed！〃 exclaimed Deede Dawson。 〃What an idea！ What
should I do that for？〃
〃If you'll give me another chance；〃 said Dunn quickly； 〃I'll do
anything … I should get it pretty stiff for this lot； and that
wouldn't be any use to you； sir； would it？ I can do almost anything
… garden； drive a motor； do what I'm told； It's only because I've
never had a chance I've had to take to this line。〃
〃If you could do what you're told you certainly might be useful；〃
said Deede Dawson slowly。 〃And I don't know that it would do me
any good to send you off to prison … you deserve it； of course。
Still … you talk sometimes like an educated man？〃
〃I had a bit of education；〃 Dunn answered。
〃I see；〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃Well； I won't ask you any more
questions； you'd probably only lie。 〃What's your name？〃
With that sudden recklessness which was a part of his impulsive and
passionate nature； Dunn answered：
〃Charley Wright。〃
The effect was instantaneous and apparent on both his auditors。
Ella gave a little cry and started so violently that she dropped
the bottle of eau…de…Cologne she had in her hands。
Deede Dawson jumped to his feet with a fearful oath。 His face went
livid； his fat cheeks seemed suddenly to sag； of his perpetual
smile every trace vanished。
He swung his revolver up； and Dunn saw the crooked forefinger quiver
as though in the very act of pressing the trigger。
The pressure of a hair decided； indeed； whether the weapon was to
fire or not； as in a high…pitched； stammering voice； Deede Dawson
gasped：
〃What … what do you mean？ What do you mean by that？〃
〃