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which he just caught the words ：
〃Deede Dawson。〃
〃He'll trouble us no more nor any one else； I think；〃 answered
Rupert； and she said no more but snuggled down in his arms as though
with a feeling of perfect security and safety。
He took her to her own room and left her with her mother； and then
went down to the hall and took a chair and sat at the front door。
All at once he felt very tired and one of his shoulders hurt him；
for he had strained a muscle there rather badly。
His one desire was to rest； and he did not even trouble to go round
to the back of the house to see what had happened to Deede Dawson；
though indeed that was not a point on which he entertained much
doubt。
For a long time he sat there quietly； till at last his father
arrived in a motor…car from Wreste Abbey； together with a
police…inspector from the county town whom he had picked up on
the way。
Rupert took them into the room where Deede Dawson's chessmen and
the board were still standing and told them as briefly as he could
what had happened since the first day when he had left his home
to try to trace out and defeat the plot hatched by Walter Dunsmore
and Deede Dawson。
〃You people wouldn't act；〃 he said to the inspector。 〃You said
there was no evidence； no proof； and I daresay you were right
enough from the legal point of view。 But it was plain enough to
me that there was some sort of conspiracy against my uncle's life；
I thought against my father's as well； but I was not sure of that
at first。 It was through poor Charley Wright I became so certain。
He found out things and told me about them； but for him the first
attempt to poison my uncle would have succeeded。 Even then we
had still no evidence to prove the reality of our suspicions； for
Walter destroyed it； by accident； I thought at the time； purposely；
as I know now。 It was something Walter said that gave Charley the
idea of coming here。 Then he vanished。 He must have roused their
suspicions somehow； and they killed him。 But again Walter put us
all off the scent by his story of having seen Charley in London；
so that it was there the search for him was made； and no one ever
thought of Bittermeads。 I never suspected Walter； such an idea
never entered my head； but luckily I didn't tell him of my idea of
coming to Bittermeads myself to try to find out what was really
going on here。 He knew nothing of where I was till I told him that
day at Wreste Abbey； then of course he came over here at once。 I
thought it was anxiety for my safety； but I expect really it was
to warn his friends。 When I saw him here that night I told him
every single thing； I trusted the carrying…out of everything I had
arranged to him。 If it hadn't been for a note Miss Cayley wrote
me to warn me； I should have walked right into the trap and so would
my father too。〃
The police…inspector asked a few questions and then made a search
of the room which resulted in the discovery of quite sufficient
proof of the guilt of Deede Dawson and of Walter Dunsmore。
Among these proofs was also a hastily…scribbled note from Walter
that solved the mystery of John Clive's death。 It was not signed；
but both General Dunsmore and Rupert knew his writing and were
prepared to swear to it。 Beginning abruptly and scribbled on a
torn scrap of paper； it ran：
〃I found Clive where you said； lucky you got hold of the note and
read it before she sent it； for no doubt she meant to warn him。
Take care she gets no chance of the sort again。 I did Clive's
business all right。 She saw me and I think recognized me from that
time she saw me over the packing…case business； before I took it
out to sink it at sea。 At any rate； she ran off in a great hurry。
If you aren't careful； she'll make trouble yet。〃
〃Apparently；〃 remarked the inspector when he had read this aloud；
〃the young lady was very luckily not watched closely enough and
did make trouble for them。 Could I see her； do you think ？〃
〃I don't know； I'll go and ask；〃 Rupert said。
Ella was still very shaken； but she consented to see the inspector；
and they all went together to her room where she was lying on her
bed with her mother fussing nervously about her。
She told them in as few words as possible the story of how she had
always disliked and mistrusted the man whom so unfortunately her
mother had married； and how gradually her suspicions strengthened
till she became certain that he was involved in many unlawful deeds。
But always her inner certainty had fallen short of absolute proof；
so careful had he been in all he did。
〃I knew I knew；〃 she said。 〃But there was nothing I really knew。
And he made me do all sorts of things for him。 I wouldn't have
cared for myself； but if I tried to refuse he made mother suffer。
She was very； very frightened of him； but she would never leave him。
She didn't dare。 There was one night he made me go very late with
a packing…case full of silver things he had； and he wouldn't tell
me where he had got them。 I believe he stole them all； but I helped
him pack them； and I took them away the night Mr。 Dunsmore came and
gave them to a man wearing a mask。 My stepfather said it was just a
secret family matter he was helping some friends in； and later on I
saw the same man in the woods near here one day … the day Mr。 Clive
was killed by the poachers … and when he came another time to the
house I thought I must try to find out what he wanted。 I listened
while they talked and they said such strange things I made up my
mind to try to warn Mr。 Dunsmore； for I was sure there was something
they were plotting。〃
〃There was indeed；〃 said Rupert grimly。 〃And but for that warning
you sent me they would have succeeded。〃
〃Somehow they found out what I had done；〃 Ella continued。 〃As soon
as I got back he kept looking at me so strangely。 I was afraid … I
had been afraid a long time； for that matter … but I tried not to
show it。 In the afternoon he told me to go up to the attic。 He
said he wanted me to help him pack some silver。 It was the same
silver I had packed before； for some reason he had got it back again。
This time I had to pack it in the little boxes； and after I had
finished I waited up there till suddenly he ran in very quickly
and looking very excited。 He said I had betrayed them； and should
suffer for it； and he took some rope and he tied me as tightly as
he could； and tied a great handkerchief over my mouth； and pushed
me inside the wardrobe and locked it。 I think he would have
killed me then only he was afraid of Mr。 Dunsmore； and very anxious
to know what had happened； and why Mr。 Dunsmore had come home； and
if there was any danger。 And I was a long time there； and I heard
a great noise； and then Mr。 Dunsmore opened the door and took me out。〃
CHAPTER XXXI
CONCLUSION
Three months had passed； and in a quiet little cottage on the
outskirts of a small country town； situated in one of the most
beautiful and peaceful vales of the south…west country； Ella was
slowly recovering from the shock of the dreadful experiences
through which she had passed。
She had been ill for some weeks； but her mother； fussily
incompeten