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〃I know I'm never allowed to say a word about Rupert。〃
〃Well； he's a fine fellow and a good friend；〃 said Walter； and the
two disappeared into the house by a small side…door as Dunn pushed
his way through the group of tourists who looked at him with marked
and severe disapproval。
〃Disgraceful；〃 one of them said quite loudly； and another added： 〃I
believe he said something impudent to that gentleman。 I saw him go
quite white； and look as if he were in two minds about ordering the
fellow right out of the grounds。〃 And a third expressed the general
opinion that the culprit looked a real ruffian with all that hair
on his face。 〃Might be a gorilla；〃 said the third tourist。 〃And
look what a clumsy sort of walk he has； perhaps he's been drinking。〃
But Dunn was quite indifferent to； and indeed unaware of this popular
condemnation as he made his way back to the hotel garage where he had
left their car。 He seemed rather well pleased than otherwise as he
walked on。
〃Quite a stroke of luck for once；〃 he mused； and he smiled to
himself； and stroked the thick growth of his untidy beard。 〃It's
been worth while； for he didn't recognize me in the least； and had
quite a shock； but； all the same； I shan't be sorry to shave and
see my own face again。〃
He had the car out and ready when Ella and Allen came back。 Allen
at once made an excuse to leave them； and went into the hotel bar
to get a drink of whisky； and when they were alone； Ella； who was
looking very troubled and thoughtful； said to Dunn
〃We saw Lord Chobham in the garden with a gentleman some one told
us was a relative of his； a Mr。 Walter Dunsmore。 Did you see them？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Dunn； a little surprised； and giving her a quick
and searching look from his bright； keen eyes。 I saw them。 Why … 〃
〃I think I've seen the one they said was Mr。 Walter Dunsmore before；
and I can't think where；〃 she answered； puckering her brows。
〃I can't think … do you know anything about him？〃
〃I know he is Mr。 Walter Dunsmore；〃 answered Dunn slowly； and I
know he is one of the family； and a great friend of Rupert Dunsmore's。
Rupert Dunsmore is Lord Chobham's nephew； you know； and heir； after
his father； to the title and estates。 His father； General Dunsmore；
brought him and Walter up together like brothers； but recently Walter
has lived at the Abbey as Lord Chobham's secretary and companion。
The general likes to live abroad a good deal； and his son Rupert is
always away on some sporting or exploring expedition or another。〃
〃It's very strange；〃 Ella said again。 〃I'm sure I've seen Walter
Dunsmore before but I can't think where。〃
Allen came from the bar； having quenched his thirst for the time
being； and they started off； arriving back at Bittermeads fairly
early in the evening； for Dunn had brought them along at a good
rate； and apparently remembered the road so well from the afternoon
that he never once had occasion to refer to the map。
He took the car round to the garage； and Allen and Ella went into
the house； where Allen made his way at once to the breakfast…room；
searching for more whisky and cigars； while Ella； after a quick
word with her mother to assure her of their safe return； went to
find Deede Dawson。
〃Ah； dear child； you are back then；〃 he greeted her。 〃Well； how
have you enjoyed yourself？ Had a pleasant time？〃
〃It was not for pleasure we went there； I think；〃 she said
listlessly。
He looked up quickly； and though his perpetual smile still played
as usual about his lips； his eyes were hard and daunting as they
fixed themselves on hers。 Before that sinister stare her own eyes
sank； and sought the little travelling set of chessmen and board
that were before him。
〃See；〃 he said； 〃I've just brought off a mate。 Neat isn't it？
Checkmate。〃
She looked up at him； and her eyes were steadier now。
〃I've only one thing to say to you；〃 she said。 〃I came here to say
it。 If anything happens at Wreste Abbey I shall go straight to the
police。〃
〃Indeed；〃 he said； 〃indeed。〃 He fingered the chessmen as though all
his attention were engaged by them。 〃May I ask why？〃 he murmured。
〃For what purpose？〃
〃To tell them；〃 she answered quietly； 〃what I … know。〃
〃And what do you know？〃 he asked indifferently。 〃What do you know
that is likely to interest the police？〃
〃I ought to have said； perhaps；〃 she answered after a pause； 〃what
I suspect。〃
〃Ah； that's so different； isn't？〃 he murmured gently。 〃 So very
different。 You see we all of us suspect so many things。〃
She did not answer； for she had said all she had to say and she was
afraid that her strength would not carry her further。 She began to
walk away； but he called her back。
〃Oh； how do you think your mother is today？〃 he asked。〃 Do you know；
her condition seems to me quite serious at times。 I wonder if you
are overanxious？〃
〃She is better … much better！〃 Ella answered； and added with a sudden
burst of fiercest； white…hot passion： 〃But I think it would be better
if we had both died before we met you。〃
She hurried away； for she was afraid of breaking down； and Deede
Dawson smiled the more as he again turned his attention to his
chessmen； taking them up and putting them down in turn。
〃She's turning nasty；〃 he mused。 〃I don't think she'll dare … but
she might。 She's only a pawn； but a pawn can cause a lot of trouble
at times … a pawn may become a queen and give the mate。 When a pawn
threatens trouble it's best to … remove it。〃
He went out and came back a little late and busied himself with a
four…move chess problem which absorbed all his attention； and which
he did not solve to his satisfaction till past midnight。 Then he
went upstairs to bed； but at the door of his room he paused and went
on very softly up the narrow stairs that led to the attics above。
Outside the one in which Dunn slept； he waited a little till the
unbroken sound of regular breathing from within assured him that
the occupant slept。
Cautiously and carefully he crept on； and entered the one adjoining；
where he turned the light of the electric flashlight he carried on a
large； empty packing…case that stood in one corner。
With a two…foot rule he took from his pocket he measured it
carefully and nodded with great satisfaction。
〃A little smaller than the other；〃 he said to himself。 〃But； then；
it hasn't got to hold so much。〃 He laughed in his silent； mirthless
way； as at something that amused him。 〃A good deal less；〃 he thought。
〃And Dunn shall drive。〃
He laughed again； and for a moment or two stood there in the
darkness； laughing silently to himself； and then； speaking aloud；
he called out：
〃You can come in； Dunn。〃
Dunn； whom a creaking board had betrayed； came forward unconcernedly
in his sleeping attire。
〃I saw it was you；〃 he remarked。 〃At first I thought something was
wrong。〃
〃Nothing； nothing；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃I was only looking at
this packing…case。 I may have to send one away again soon； and I
wanted to be sure this was big enough。 If I do； I shall want you to
drive。〃
〃Not Miss Cayley？〃 asked Dunn。
〃No； no；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃She might be with you perhaps； b