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drive。〃
〃Not Miss Cayley？〃 asked Dunn。
〃No； no；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃She might be with you perhaps； but
she wouldn't drive。 Night driving is always dangerous； I think； don't
you？〃
〃There's things more dangerous；〃 Dunn remarked。
〃Oh； quite true；〃 answered Deede Dawson。 〃Well； did you enjoy your
visit to Wreste Abbey？〃
〃No；〃 answered Dunn roughly。 〃I didn't see Rupert Dunsmore； and it
wouldn't have been any good if I had with all those people about。〃
〃You're too impatient；〃 Deede Dawson smiled。 〃I'm getting everything
ready； you can't properly expect to win a game in a dozen moves。 You
must develop your pieces properly and have all ready before you start
your attack。 As soon as I'm ready … why； I'll act … and you'll have
to do the rest。〃
〃I see；〃 said Dunn thoughtfully。
CHAPTER XXI
DOUBTS AND FEARS
In point of fact Dunn had not been asleep when Deede Dawson came
listening at his door。 Of late he had slept little and that little
had been much disturbed by evil； haunting dreams in which perpetually
he saw his dead friend； Charley Wright； and dead John Clive always
together； while behind them floated the pale and lovely face of Ella；
at whom the two dead men looked and whispered to each other。
In the day such thoughts troubled him less； for when he was under
the influence of Ella's gentle presence； and when he could watch her
clear and candid eyes； he found all doubt and suspicion melting away
like snow beneath warm sunshine。
But in the silence of the night they returned； returned very
dreadfully； so dreadfully that often as he lay awake in the darkness
beads of sweat stood upon his forehead and he would drive his great
hands one against the other in his passionate effort to still the
thoughts that tormented him。 Then； in the morning again； the sound
of Ella's voice； the merest glimpse of her grave and gracious
personality； would bring back once more his instinctive belief in
her。
The morning after Deede Dawson had paid his visit to the attic there
was news； however； that disturbed him greatly； for Mrs。 Barker； the
charwoman who came each morning to Bittermeads； told them that two
men in the village … notorious poachers … had been arrested by the
police on a charge of being concerned in Mr。 Clive's death。
The news was a great shock to Dunn； for； knowing as he thought he
did； that the police were working on an entirely wrong idea； he had
not supposed they would ever find themselves able to make any arrest。
As a matter of fact； these arrests they had made were the result of
desperation on the part of the police； who unable to discover
anything and entirely absorbed by their preconceived idea that the
crime was the work of poachers； had arrested men they knew were
poachers in the vague hope of somehow discovering something or of
somehow getting hold of some useful clue。
But that Dunn did not know； and feared unlucky chance or undesigned
coincidence must have appeared to suggest the guilt of the men and
that they were really in actual danger of trial and conviction。 He
had； too； received that morning； through the secret means of
communication he kept open with an agent in London； conclusive proof
that at the moment of Clive's death Deede Dawson was in town on
business that seemed obscure enough； but none the less in town；
and therefore undoubtedly innocent of the actual perpetration of
the murder。
Who； then； was left who could have fired the fatal shot？
It was a question Dunn dared not even ask himself but he saw very
plainly that if the proceedings against the two arrested men were
to be pressed； he would be forced to come forward before his
preparations were ready and tell all he knew； no matter at what cost。
All the morning he waited and watched for his opportunity to speak
to Ella； who was in a brighter and gayer mood than he had ever seen
her in before。
At breakfast Deede Dawson had assured her that he could not conceive
what were the suspicions she had referred to the night previously；
and while he would certainly have no objection to her mentioning
them at any time； in any quarter she thought fit if anything happened
at Wreste Abbey … and would indeed be the first to urge her to do so
… he； for his part； considered it most unlikely that anything of the
sort she seemed to dread would in fact occur。
〃Not at all likely；〃 he said with his happy； beaming smile that
never reached those cold eyes of his。 〃I should say myself that
nothing ever did happen at Wreste Abbey； not since the Flood； anyhow。
It strikes me as the most peaceful； secluded spot in all England。〃
〃I'm very glad you think so；〃 said Ella； tremendously relieved and
glad to hear him say so； and supposing； though his smooth words and
smiles and protestations deceived her very little； that； at any rate；
what she had said had forced him to abandon whatever plans he had
been forming in that direction。
Her victory； as it seemed to her； won so easily and containing good
promise of further success in the future； cheered her immensely； and
it was in almost a happy mood that she went unto the garden after
lunch and met Dunn in a quiet； well…hidden corner； where he had been
waiting and watching for long。
His appearance startled her … his eyes were so wild； his whole
manner so strained and restless； and she gave a little dismayed
exclamation as she saw him。
〃Oh； what's the matter？ 〃' she asked。 〃Aren't you well？ You look … 〃
She paused for she did not know exactly how it was he did look；；
and he said in his harshest； most abrupt manner
〃Do you remember Charley Wright？〃
〃Why do you ask？〃 she said； puzzled。 〃Is anything wrong？〃
〃Do you remember John Clive？〃 he asked； disregarding this。 〃Have
you heard two men have been arrested for his murder？〃
〃Mrs。 Barker told me so；〃' she answered gravely。 He came a little
nearer； almost threateningly nearer。
〃What do you think of that？〃 he asked。
She lifted one hand and put it gently on his arm。 The touch of it
thrilled him through and through； and he felt a little dazed as he
watched it resting on his coat sleeve。 She had become very pale
also and her voice was low and strained as she said
〃Have you had suspicions too？〃
He looked at her as if fascinated for a moment； and then nodded
twice and very slowly。
〃So have I；〃 she sighed in tones so low he could scarcely hear them。
〃Oh； you； you also；〃 he muttered； almost suffocating。
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃Yes … perhaps the same as yours。 My stepfather；〃
she breathed； 〃Mr。 Deede Dawson。〃
He watched her closely and moodily； but he did not speak。
〃I was afraid … at first；〃 she whispered。 〃But I was wrong … quite
wrong。 It is as certain as it can be that he was in London at the
time。〃
》From his pocket Dunn took out the handkerchief of hers that he had
found near the body of the dead man。
〃Is this yours？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 she answered。 〃Yes； where did you get it？〃
He did not answer； but he lifted his hands one after the other； and
put them on her shoulder； with the fingers outspread to encircle her
throat。 It seemed to him that when she acknowledged the ownership
of the handker