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CHAPTER XII
AN AVOWAL
When Clive had gone that afternoon； Ella； who had accompanied him
as far as the gate； and had from thence waved him a farewell； came
back to the spot where Dunn was working。
She stood still； watching him； and he looked up at her and then
went on with his work without speaking； for now； as always； the
appalling thought was perpetually in his mind： 〃Must she not have
known what it was she had with her in the car when she went driving
that night？〃
After a little； she turned away； as if disappointed that he took no
notice of her presence。
At once he raised himself from the task he had been bending over；
and stood moodily watching the slim； graceful figure； about which
hung such clouds of doubt and dread； and she； turning around
suddenly； as if she actually felt the impact of his gaze； saw him；
and saw the strange expression in his eyes。
〃Why do you look at me like that？〃 she asked quickly； her soft and
gentle tones a little shrill； as though swift fear had come upon her。
〃Like what？〃 he mumbled。
〃Oh； you know；〃 she cried passionately。 〃Am I to be the next？〃 she
asked。
He started； and looked at her wonderingly； asking himself if these
words of hers bore the grim meaning that his mind instantly gave
them。
Was it possible that if she did know something of what was going on
in this quiet country house； during these peaceful autumn days； she
knew it not as willing accomplice； but as a helpless； destined victim
who saw no way of escape。
As if she feared she had said too much； she turned and began to
walk away。
At once he followed。
〃Stop one moment；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Miss Cayley。〃
She obeyed； turning quickly to face him。 They were both very pale；
and both were under the influence of strong excitement。 But between
them there hung a thick cloud of doubt and dread that neither could
penetrate。
All at once Dunn； unable to control himself longer； burst out with
that question which for so long had hovered on his lips。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃do you know what you took away with you in
the car that night I came here？〃
〃The packing…case； you meant〃 she asked。 〃Of course I do； I helped
to get it ready … what's the matter？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he muttered； though indeed he had staggered as beneath
some sudden and violent blow。 〃Oh … did you？〃 he said； with an
effort。
〃Certainly；〃 she answered。 〃Now I've answered your question； will
you answer me one？ Why did you tell us your name was Charley Wright？〃
〃I knew a man of that name once；〃 he answered。 〃He's dead now。〃
〃I thought perhaps；〃 she said slowly and quite calmly； 〃that it was
because you had seen the name written on a photograph in my room。〃
〃No； it wasn't that；〃 he answered gravely； and his doubts that for
a moment had seemed so terribly confirmed； now came back again； for
though she had said that she knew of the contents of the
packing…case； yet； if that were really so； how was it conceivable
that she should speak of such a thing so calmly？
And yet again； if she could do it； perhaps also she could talk of
it without emotion。 Once more there was fear in his eyes as he
watched her； and her own were troubled and doubtful。
〃Why do you have all that hair on your face？〃 she asked。
〃Well； why shouldn't I？〃 he retorted。 〃It saves trouble。〃
〃Does it？〃 she said。 〃Do you know what it looks like … like a
disguise？〃
〃A disguise？〃 he repeated。 〃Why should I want a disguise？〃
〃Do you think I'm quite a fool because I'm a woman？〃 she asked
impatiently。 〃Do you suppose I couldn't see very well when you
came that night that you were not an ordinary burglar？ You had
some reason of your own for breaking into this house。 What was
it？〃
〃I'll tell you；〃 he answered； 〃if you'll tell me truly what was in
that packing…case？〃
〃Oh； now I understand；〃 she cried excitedly。 〃It was to find that
out you came … and then Mr。 Dawson made you help us get it away。
That was splendid。〃
He did not speak； for once more a kind of horror held him dumb； as
it seemed to him that she really … knew。
She saw the mingled horror and bewilderment in his eyes； and she
laughed lightly as though that amused her。
〃Do you know；〃 she said； 〃I believe I guessed as much from the
first； but I'm afraid Mr。 Dawson was too clever for you … as he is
for most people。 Only then；〃 she added； wrinkling her brows as
though a new point puzzled her； 〃why are you staying here like
this？〃
〃Can't you guess that too？〃 he asked hoarsely。
〃No；〃 she said； shaking her head with a frankly puzzled air。 〃No；
I can't。 That's puzzled me all the time。 Do you know … I think
you ought to shave？〃
〃Why？〃
〃A beard makes a good disguise；〃 she answered； 〃so good it's hardly
fair for you to have it when I can't。〃
〃Perhaps you need it less；〃 he answered bitterly； 〃or perhaps no
disguise could be so effective as the one you have already。〃
〃What's that？〃 she asked。
〃Bright eyes； a pretty face； a clear complexion；〃 he answered。
He spoke with an extreme energy and bitterness that she did not in
the least understand； and that quite took away from the words any
suspicion of intentional rudeness。
〃If I have all that； I suppose it's natural and not a disguise；〃
she remarked。
〃My beard is natural too；〃 he retorted。
〃All the same； I wish you would cut it off；〃 she answered。 〃I
should like to see what you look like。〃
She turned and walked away； and the more Dunn thought over this
conversation； the less he felt he understood it。
What had she meant by that strange start and look she had given him
when she had asked if she were to be the next？ And when she
asserted so confidently that she knew what was in the packing…case；
was that true； or was she speaking under some mistaken impression；
or had she wished to deceive him？
The more he thought； the more disturbed he felt； and every hour that
passed he seemed to feel more and more strongly the influence of her
gracious beauty； the horror of his suspicions of her。
The next day Clive came again； and again Ella seemed very pleased
to see him； and again Dunn； hanging about in their vicinity；
watched gloomily their friendly intercourse。
That Clive was in love with Ella seemed fairly certain； at any rate；
he showed himself strongly attracted by her； and very eager for
her company。
How she felt was more doubtful； though she made no concealment of
the fact that she liked to see him； and found pleasure in having
him there。 Dunn； moving about near at hand； was aware of an odd
impression that she knew he was watching them； and that she wished
him to do so for several times he saw her glance in his direction。
He could always move with a most extraordinary lightness of foot；
so that； big and clumsy as he seemed in build； he could easily go
unheard and even unseen； and John Clive seemed to have little idea
that he remained so persistently near at hand。
This gift or power of Dunn's he had acquired in far…off lands； where
life may easily depend on the snapping of a twig or the right
interpretation of a trampled grass…blade； and he was using it now；
almost unconsciously； so as to make his presence ne