按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
taste in adornment； so that his air of prosperity and wealth had
the appearance of being that of some recently…enriched vulgarian
whose association with a motor…car and a well…dressed girl of Ella's
type was probably due to the fact that he had recently purchased
them both out of newly…acquired wealth。
Dunn wore a neat chauffeur's costume； with which； however； his
bearded face did not go too well。 He felt indeed that their whole
turn…out was far too conspicuous considering the real nature of
their errand； and far too likely to attract attention； and he
wondered if Deede Dawson's subtle and calculating mind had not for
some private reason desired that to be so。
〃He is keeping well in the background himself；〃 Dunn mused。 〃He may
reckon that if things go wrong … in case of any pursuit … it's a
good move perhaps in a way； but he may find an unexpected check to
his king opened on him。〃
The drive was a long one； and Ella noticed that though Dunn consulted
his map frequently； he never appeared in any doubt concerning the way。
A little before three they drove into the village that lay round the
park gates of Wreste Abbey。
Motors were not allowed in the park； so Dunn put theirs in the garage
of the little hotel； that was already almost full； for visiting day
at Wreste Abbey generally drew a goodly number of tourists； while
Ella and Allen； in odd companionship； walked up to the Abbey by the
famous approach through the chestnut avenue。
Allen was quiet and surly； and much on his guard； and very
uncomfortable in Ella's company； and Ella herself； though for
different reasons was equally silent。
But the beauty of the walk through the chestnut avenue； and of the
vista with the great house at the end； drew from her a quick
exclamation of delight。
〃How beautiful a place this is；〃 she said aloud。 〃And how peaceful
and how quiet。〃
〃Don't like these quiet places myself；〃 grumbled Allen。 〃Don't like
'em； don't trust 'em。 Give me lots of traffic； when everything's so
awful quiet you've only got to kick your foot against a stone or drop
a tool； and likely as not you'll wake the whole blessed place。〃
〃Wake 〃 repeated Ella； noticing the word； and she repeated it with
emphasis。 〃Why do you say 'wake'？〃
CHAPTER XX
ELLA'S WARNING
Ella did not say anything more； and in their character of tourists
visiting the place； they were admitted to the Abbey and passed on
though its magnificent rooms； where was stored a collection rich
and rare even for one of the stateliest homes of England。
〃What a wonderful place！〃 Ella sighed wistfully。 Yet she could not
enjoy the spectacle of all these treasures as she would have done
at another time； for she was always watching Allen； who hung about
a good deal； and seemed to look more at the locks of the cases that
held some of the more valuable of the objects shown than at the
things themselves； and generally spent fully half the time in each
room at the window； admiring； the view； he said； but for quite
another reason； Ella suspected。
〃I shall speak when I get back；〃 she said to herself； pale and
resolute。 〃I don't care what happens； I don't care if I have to
tell mother … perhaps she knows already。 Anyhow； I shall speak。〃
Having come to this determination； she grew cheerful and more
interested apparently in what they were seeing； as well as less
watchful of her companion。 When； presently； they left the house to
go into the gardens； it happened that they noticed an old gentleman
walking at a little distance behind a gate marked 〃Private；〃 and
leaning on the arm of a tall； thin； clean…shaven man of middle…age。
〃Lord Chobham； the old gentleman；〃 whispered a tourist； who was
standing near。 〃I saw him once in the House of Lords。 That's his
secretary with him； Mr。 Dunsmore； one of the family； he manages
everything now the old gentleman is getting so feeble。〃
Ella walked on frowning and a little worried； for she thought she
had seen the secretary before and yet could not remember where。
Soon she noticed Dunn； who had apparently been obeying Deede Dawson's
orders to look round outside and get to know the lie of the land。
He seemed at present to be a good deal interested in Lord Chobham
and his companion； for he went and leaned on the gate and stared at
them so rudely that one or two of the other tourists noticed it
and frowned at him。 But he took no notice； and presently； as if
not seeing that the gate was marked 〃Private；〃 he pushed it open
and walked through。
Noticing the impertinent intrusion almost at once； Mr。 Dunsmore
turned round and called 〃This is private。〃
Dunn did not seem to hear； and Mr。 Dunsmore walked across to him
with a very impatient air； while the little group of tourists
watched； with much interest and indignation and a very comforting
sense of superiority。
〃He ought to be sent right out of the grounds；〃 they told each other。
〃That's the sort of rude behaviour other people have to suffer for。〃
〃Now； my man；〃 said Mr。 Dunsmore sharply； 〃this is private； you've
no business here。〃
〃Sorry； sir； beg pardon； I'm sure；〃 said Dunn； touching his hat； and
as he did so he said in a sharp； penetrating whisper： 〃Look out …
trouble's brewing … don't know what； but look out； all the time。〃
He had spoken so quickly and quietly； in the very act of turning away；
that none of the onlookers could have told that a word had passed； but
for the very violent start that Walter Dunsmore made and his quick
movement forward as if to follow the other。 Immediately Dunn turned
back towards him with a swift warning gesture of his hand。
〃Careful； you fool； they're looking；〃 he said in a quick whisper；
and in a loud voice ： 〃Very sorry； sir； beg pardon … I'm sure
I didn't mean anything。〃
Walter Dunsmore swung round upon his heel and went quickly back to
where Lord Chobham waited； and his face was like that of one who
has gazed into the very eyes of death。
〃Lord in Heaven；〃 he muttered； 〃it's all over； I'm done。〃 And his
hand felt for a little metal box he carried in his waistcoat pocket
and that held half a dozen small round tablets； each of them a strong
man's death。
But he took his hand away again as he rejoined his cousin； patron；
and employer； old Lord Chobham。
〃What's the matter； Walter？〃 Lord Chobham asked。 〃You look pale。〃
〃The fellow was a bit impudent； he made me angry；〃 said Walter
carelessly。 He fingered the little box in his waistcoat pocket and
thought how one tablet on his tongue would always end it all。 〃By
the way； oughtn't Rupert to be back soon？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； he ought；〃 said Lord Chobham severely。 〃It's time he married
and settled down … I shall speak to his father about it。 The boy
is always rushing off somewhere or another when he ought to be
getting to know the estate and the tenants。〃
Walter Dunsmore laughed。
〃I think he knows them both fairly well already；〃 he said。 〃Not a
tenant on the place but swears by Rupert。 He's a fine fellow； uncle。〃
〃Oh； you always stick up for him； you and he were always friends；〃
answered Lord Chobham in a grumbling tone； but really very pleased。
〃I know I'm never allowed to say