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leaping bullet would do the rest。
It would be safe and easy … suspected burglars in a garden at
midnight … nothing could be said。 He lay very still with his face
to the dewy sod； and all the night seemed full to him of searching
footsteps and of a swift and murderous going to and fro。
He heard distinctly from the road a sudden； muffled sound as Clive
in the darkness blunderingly missed his footing and fell upon one
knee。
〃That's finished him；〃 Dunn thought grimly； his ears straining for
the sharp pistol report that would tell Clive's tale was done； and
then he was aware of a cat； a favourite of Ella's and often petted
by himself； that was crouching near by under a tree； most likely
much puzzled and alarmed by this sudden irruption of hurrying men
into its domain。 Instantly Dunn saw his chance； and seizing the
animal； lifted it and threw it in the direction where he guessed
Deede Dawson to be。
His guess was good and fortune served him well； for the tabby
flying caterwauling through the air alighted almost exactly in
front of Deede Dawson on top of a small bush。 For a moment it
hung there； quite unhurt； but very frightened； and emitted a yell；
then fled。
In the quietness the tumult of its scrambling flight sounded
astonishingly loud； so that it sounded as through a miniature
avalanche had been let loose in the garden。
〃Only cats；〃 Deede Dawson exclaimed disgustedly； and from behind；
nearer the house； Dunn called：
〃Who's there？ What is it？ What's the matter？ Is it Mr。 Dawson？
Is anything wrong？〃
〃I think there is；〃 said Deede Dawson softly。 〃I think； perhaps；
there is。 What are you doing out here at this time of night；
Charley Wright？〃
〃I heard a noise and came down to see what it was；〃 answered Dunn。
〃There was a light in the breakfast…room； but I didn't see any one；
and the front door was open so I came out here。 Is anything wrong？〃
〃That's what I want to know；〃 said Deede Dawson。 〃Come back to the
house with me。 If any one is about； he can just take himself off。〃
He spoke the last sentence loudly； and Dunn took it as a veiled
instruction to his companion to depart。
He realized that if he had saved Clive he had done so at the cost
of missing the best opportunity that had yet come his way of
obtaining very important； and； perhaps； decisive information。
To have discovered the identity of this stranger who had come
visiting Deede Dawson might have meant much； and he told himself
angrily that Clive's safety had certainly not been worth purchasing
at the cost of such a lost chance； though he supposed that was a
point on which Clive himself might possibly entertain a different
opinion。
But now there was nothing for it but to go quietly back to the
house； for clearly Deede Dawson's suspicions were aroused and he
had his revolver ready in his hand。
〃I suppose it was only cats all the time；〃 he observed； with apparent
unconcern。 〃But at first I made sure there were burglars in the
house。〃
〃And I suppose；〃 suggested Deede Dawson。 〃You think one burglar's
enough in a household。〃
〃I don't mean to have any one else mucking around；〃 growled Dunn
in answer。
〃Very admirable sentiments；〃 said Deede Dawson and asked several
more questions that showed he still entertained some suspicion of
Dunn； and was not altogether satisfied that his appearance in the
garden was quite innocent； or that the noise heard there was due；
solely to cats。
Dunn answered as best he could； and Deede Dawson listened and smiled；
and smiled again； and watched him from eyes that did not smile at
all。
〃Oh； well；〃 Deede Dawson said at last； with a yawn。 〃Anyhow； it's
all right now。 You had better get along back to bed； and I'll lock
up。〃 He accompanied Dunn into the hall and watched him ascend the
stairs； and as Dunn went slowly up them he felt by no means sure
that soon a bullet would not come questing after him； searching for
heart or brain。
For he was sure that Deede Dawson still suspected him； and he knew
Deede Dawson to be very sudden and swift in action。 But nothing
happened； he reached the broad； first landing in safety； and he was
about to go on up to his attic when he beard a door at the end of
the passage open and saw Ella appear in her dressing…gown。
〃What is the matter ？〃 she asked； in a low voice。
〃It's all right；〃 he answered。 〃There was a noise in the garden；
and I came down to see what it was； but it's only cats。〃
〃Oh； is that all？〃 she said distrustfully。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； in a lower voice still； he said：
〃Will you tell me something？ Do you know any one who talks in a
very peculiar shrill high voice？〃
She did not answer； and； after a moment's hesitation； went back
into her room and closed the door behind her。
He went on up to his attic with the feeling that she could have
answered if she had wished to； and lay down in a troubled and
dispirited mood。
For he was sure now that Ella mistrusted him and would give him
no assistance； and that weighed upon him greatly； as did also his
conviction that what it behoved him above all else to know … the
identity of the man who； in this affair； stood behind Deede Dawson
and made use of his fierce and fatal energies … he had had it in
his power to discover and had failed to make use of the opportunity。
〃I would rather know that；〃 he said to himself； 〃than save a dozen
Clives ten times over。〃 Though again it occurred to him that on
this point Clive might hold another opinion。 〃If he hadn't made
such a blundering row I might have got to know who Deede Dawson's
visitor was。 I must try to get a word with Clive tomorrow by hook
or crook； though I daresay Deede Dawson will be very much on the
lookout。〃
However； next morning Deede Dawson not only made no reference to
the events of the night； but had out the car and went off
immediately after breakfast without saying when he would be back。
As soon after his departure as possible； Dunn also set out and took
his way through the woods towards Ramsdon Place on the look…out for
an opportunity to speak to Clive unobserved。
He thought it most likely that Clive would be drawn towards the
vicinity of Bittermeads by the double fascination of curiosity and
fear； and he supposed that if he waited and watched in the woods he
would be sure presently to see him。
But though he remained for long hidden at a spot whence he could
command the road to Bittermeads from Ramsdon Place； he saw nothing
at all of Clive； and the sunny lazy morning was well advanced when
he was startled by the sound of a gun shot some distance away。
〃A keeper shooting rabbits； I suppose；〃 he thought； looking round
just in time to see Ella running through the wood from the direction
whence the sound of the shot had seemed to come； and then vanish
again with a quick look behind her into the heart of a close…growing
spinney。
CHAPTER XVI
IN THE WOOD
There had been an air of haste； almost of furtiveness； about this
swift appearance and more swift vanishing of Ella； that made Dunn
ask himself uneasily what errand she could have been on。
He hesitated for a moment； half expecting to see her return again；
or th