Part 39 (1/2)
”Now,” she answered instantly. ”Now!--Now!--Oh, don't look surprised.
I've thought of this possibility. My G.o.d!” she said with a bitterness that startled him. ”I've thought of every possibility, every possible crook and quirk of this business.”
She was struck by his slowness in responding to her offer.
”But you,” she asked; ”are you sure--have you the proof?”
”Thanks,” he said drily. ”You needn't be uneasy about that.--Now, if I may do a little telephoning, we'll start.”
He went a step from her and turned back.
”By the way,” he stipulated, ”that little matter of the five hundred--you needn't refer to it. I mean it will have to be left out.
It's not necessary.”
”No; it isn't,” she agreed, with perfect indifference. ”And it's spent.”
When he had telephoned to Sloanehurst and the sheriff's office, he found her with her hat on, ready to accompany him.
As they stepped out of the Walman, she saw the automobile waiting for them. She stopped, a new rage darting from her eyes. He thought she would go back. After a brief hesitation, however, she gave a short, ugly laugh.
”You were as sure as that, were you!” she belittled herself. ”Had the car wait--to take me there!”
”By no means,” he denied. ”I hoped you'd go--that's all.”
”That's better,” she said, determined to a.s.sert her individuality of action. ”You're not forcing me into this, you know. I'm doing it, after thinking it out to the last detail--for my own satisfaction.”
XX
DENIAL OF THE CHARGE
Hastings, fully appreciating the value of surprise, had instructed Mrs.
Brace to communicate none of the new developments to anybody until he asked for them. Reaching Sloanehurst, he went alone to the library, leaving her in the parlour to battle as best she might with the sheriff's anxious curiosity.
Arthur Sloane and Judge Wilton gave him cool welcome, parading for his benefit an obvious and insolent boredom. Although uninvited to sit down, he caught up a chair and swung it lightly into such position that, when he seated himself, he faced them across the table. He was smiling, enough to indicate a general satisfaction with the world.
There was in his bearing, however, that which carried them back to their midnight session with him immediately following the discovery of Mildred Brace's body. The smile did not lessen his look of unquestionable power; his words were sharp, clipped-off.
”I take it,” he said briskly, untouched by their demeanour of indifference, ”you gentlemen will be interested in the fact that I've cleared up this mystery.”
”Ah-h-h!” drawled Sloane. ”Again?”
”What do you mean by 'again'?” he asked, good-naturedly.
”Crown, the sheriff, accomplished it four days ago, I'm credibly informed.”
”He made a mistake.”
”Ah?” Sloane ridiculed.