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but he would not look back because he feared what he might do if he
obeyed her call。
With an odd buzzing in his ears； with the blood throbbing through
his brain as though something must soon break there； he walked
blindly on； and as he came to the gate of Bittermeads he saw a
motor…car coming up the road。
It was Deede Dawson's car； and he was driving it； and by his side
sat a sulkily…smiling stranger； his air that of one not sure of his
welcome； but determined to enforce it； in whom； with a quick start；
Dunn recognized his burglar； the man whose attempt to break into
Bittermeads he had frustrated； and whose place he had taken。
He put up his hand instinctively for them to stop； and Deede Dawson
at once obeyed the gesture。
Dunn noticed that the smile upon his lips was more gentle and
winning than ever； the look in his eyes more dark and menacing。
〃Well； Dunn； what is it？〃 he said as pleasantly as he always spoke。
〃Mr。 Allen；〃 he added to his companion； 〃this is my man； Dunn； I
told you about； my gardener and chauffeur； and a very industrious
steady fellow … and quite trustworthy。〃
He seemed to lay a certain emphasis on the last two words； and Allen
put his head on one side and looked at Dunn with an odd； mixture of
familiarity； suspicion； hesitation； and an uncertain assumption of
superiority； but with no hint of recognition showing。
〃Glad to hear it；〃 he said。 〃You always want to know whom you can
trust。〃
〃Mr。 Clive has been murdered；〃 Dunn said abruptly。 〃Poachers； it
is said。 Did you know？〃
〃We heard about it as we came through the village；〃 answered Deede
Dawson。 〃Very sad； very dreadful。 It will be a great shock to poor
Ella； I fear。 Take the car on to the garage； will you？〃 he added。
He drove on up the drive； and at the front door they alighted and
entered the house together。 Dunn followed； and getting into the
car； drove it to the garage； where he busied himself cleaning it。
As he worked he wondered very much what was the meaning of this
sudden appearance on terms of friendship with Deede Dawson of this
man Allen； whom he had last seen trying to break into the house at
night。
Was Allen an accomplice of Deede Dawson； or a dupe； or； more
probably； a new recruit？
At any rate； to Dunn it seemed that the crisis he had expected and
prepared for was now fast approaching； and he told himself that if
he had failed in Clive's case； those others he was working for he
must not fail to save。
〃Looks as if Dawson's plans were nearly ready；〃 he said to himself。
〃Well； so are mine。〃
He finished his work and shutting the garage door； he was turning
away when he saw Ella coming towards him。
She was extremely pale； and her eyes seemed larger than ever； and
very bright against the deathly whiteness of her cheeks。
She was wearing a blouse that was cut a little low； and he notice
with a kind of terror how soft and round was her throat； like a
column of pale and perfect ivory。
He hoped she would not speak to him； for he thought perhaps he could
not bear it if she did； but she halted near by； and said：
〃This is very dreadful about poor Mr。 Clive。〃
〃Very；〃 he answered moodily。
〃Why should poachers kill him？〃 she asked。 〃Why should they want
to？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； watching not her but her soft throat；
where he could see a pulse fluttering。 〃Perhaps it wasn't poachers；〃
he added。
She started violently； and gave a quick look that seemed to make yet
more certain the certainty he already entertained。
〃Who else could it be？〃 she asked in a low voice。
He did not answer。
After what seemed a long time she said：
〃You asked me a question once … do you remember？〃
He shook his head。
〃Why don't you speak？ Why can't you speak？〃 she cried angrily。
〃Why can't you。 say something instead of just shaking your head？〃
〃You see； I've asked you so many questions；〃 he said slowly。
〃Perhaps I shall ask you some more some day … which question do you
mean？〃
〃I mean when you asked me if I had ever met any one who spoke in a
very shrill； high whistling sort of voice？ Do you remember？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃You wouldn't tell me。〃
〃Well； I will now；〃 she said。 〃I did meet a man once with a voice
like that。 Do you remember the night you； came here that I drove
away in the car with a packing…case you carried downstairs？〃
〃Do I … remember？〃 he gasped； for that memory； and the thought of
how she had driven away into the night with； that grisly thing behind
her on the car had never since left his mind by night or by day。
〃Yes；〃 she exclaimed impatiently。 〃Why do you keep staring so？ Are
you as stupid as you choose to look？ Do you remember？〃
〃I remember；〃 he answered heavily。 〃I remember very well。〃
〃Well； then； the man I took that packing…case to had a voice just
like that … high and shrill； whistling almost。〃
〃I thought as much；〃 said Dunn。 〃May I ask you another question？〃
She nodded。
〃May I smoke？〃
She nodded again with a touch of impatience。
He took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth and
lighted a match； but the match； when he had lighted it； he used to
put light to a scrap of folded paper with writing on it； like a note。
This piece of paper he used to light his cigarette with and when he
had done so he watched the paper burn to an ash； not dropping it to
the ground till the little flame stung his fingers。
The ash that had fallen he ground into the path where they stood
with the heel of his boot。
〃What have you burned there？〃 she asked； as if she suspected it was
something of importance he had destroyed。
In fact it was the note that had fallen from dead John Clive's hand
wherein Ella had asked him to meet her at the oak where he had met
his death。
That bit of paper would have been enough； Dunn thought； to place a
harsh hempen noose about the soft white throat he watched where the
little pulse still fluttered up and down。 But now it was burnt and
utterly destroyed； and no one would ever see it。
At the thought he laughed and she drew back； very startled。
〃Oh； what is the matter？〃 she exclaimed。
〃Nothing；〃 he answered。 〃Nothing in all the world except that I
love you。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
ROBERT DUNN'S ENEMY
When he had said this he went a step or two aside and sat down on
the stump of a tree。 He was very agitated and disturbed for he had
not in the very least meant to say such a thing； he had not even
known that he really felt like that。
It was； indeed； a rush and power of quite unexpected passion that
had swept him away and made him for the moment lose all control
of himself。 Ella showed much more composure。 She had become
extraordinarily pale； but otherwise she did not appear in any way
agitated。
She remained silent； her eyes bent on the ground； her only movement
a gesture by which she rubbed softly and in turn each of her wrists
as though they hurt her。
〃Well； can't you say something？〃 he asked roughly； annoyed by her
persistent silence。
〃I don't see that there's anything for me to say；〃 she answered。
〃Oh； well now then；〃 he muttered； quite disconcerted。
She raised her eyes from the ground； an