“Yes, but I stood there watching her for a few minutes. I don’t know how long, desperate, not knowing what to do. And then I started to run back here and I fell down. I suppose I was shaking so and the rocks were slippery. I think I fell twice, but I don’t know. I seemed to be half-crazy.” “You saw or heard nothing on your way back?” [Pg 122] [Pg 122] “No, no, I keep telling you,” her voice grew higher. “I never saw anybody. If anybody was there he must have been hiding. They could have heard me—I was screaming.” She turned to the others. “Wasn’t I screaming?” Bassett confirmed her statement and she went on, her voice still higher, the cords in her neck starting out: “Of course they heard me and hid—got out of the way. Some stranger. We were all in the house, everybody here was in the house. It couldn’t have been any of them.” Stokes half rose: “Flora—please!” She turned violently on him: “Why shouldn’t I say it? I’m not afraid. I was the only person outside and it couldn’t have been me.” She faced round on Rawson. “Nobody could think that. Ask them—these people. They’ll tell you.” “That’s not at all necessary, Mrs. Stokes.” Rawson was mild and suave. “Now if you’ll try to be calm——” [Pg 123] [Pg 123] “Calm, calm,” she groaned and bent almost double, dropping her face into her hands. Stokes got up, chalk-white in the lamplight: “My wife’s pretty well knocked out, Mr. Rawson.” “Quite understandable, Mr. Stokes. We won’t trouble her any more just now. And if the rest of you ladies and gentlemen will refrain from saying what you think or offering suggestions we’ll get on a good deal quicker.” Stokes took his chair. Flora raised herself and dropped against the back of hers with upraised chin and closed eyes. Bassett had a photographic impression of Williams, striking softly on his teeth with his fountain pen and looking at her. They went on to Stokes who was very clear and
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