that her mind was unbalanced. Yet if she was not insane, what excuse could he find to explain her crime? Provocation? Yes, she had had that. She had been beaten, flogged. But even so, to kill! He had once been present when a murderer was sentenced: "To hang by the neck until you are dead," the words rang in his ears. That small white neck--no--never. Suddenly he realised that his path was irrevocably chosen. As long as she needed him, he would protect her to the uttermost of his ability. Even if his efforts proved futile, even if he ruined his life without saving hers, he felt he would never regret his decision.

"Newhaven."

It seemed centuries since he had left it that morning. Hiring a fly, he drove out to Geralton, a distance of nine miles. There the door was opened by the same butler who had admitted him five years previously.

"It's Mr. Cyril!" he cried, falling back a step. "Why, sir, they all told us as 'ow you were in South Africa. But I bid you welcome, sir.""Thank you. I am glad to see you again."
"Thank you, sir,--my lord, I mean, and please forgive your being received like this--but every one is so upset, there's no doing nothing with nobody. If you will step in 'ere, I'll call Mrs. Eversley, the 'ousekeeper."
"Is Mrs. Eversley still here? I remember her perfectly. She used to stuff me with doughnuts when I came here as a boy. Tell her I will see her presently."
"Very good, my lord."
"Now I want to hear all the particulars of the tragedy. The newspaper account was very meagre."
"Quite so, my lord," assented the butler.
"Lady Wilmersley has not been found?" asked Cyril.
"No, my lord. We've searched for her ladyship 'igh and low. Not a trace of her. And now every one says as 'ow she did it. But I'll never believe it--never. A gentle little lady, she was, and so easily frightened! Why, if my lord so much as looked at her sometimes, she'd fall a trembling, and 'e always so kind and devoted to 'er. 'E just doted on 'er, 'e did. I never saw nothing like it."
"If you don't believe her ladyship guilty, is there any one else you do suspect?"
"No, my lord, I can't say as I do." He spoke regretfully. "It was a burglar, I believe. I think the detective----"
"What detective?" interrupted Cyril.
"His name is Judson; 'e comes from London and they say as 'e can find a murderer just by looking at the chair 'e sat in."
"Who sent for him? The police?"
"No, it was Mr. Twombley of Crofton. He said we owed it to 'er ladyship to hemploy the best talent."
"Where is the detective now?"
"'E's in the long drawing-room with Mr. Twombley."
"Has the inquest been held?"

 Prev. P 19/173 next