the bittermeads mystery-第14部分

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a　gentle　heat；　which　was　what　Dunn　did　when；　presently；　he　received
it；　apparently　unopened　and　with　not　the　least　sign　to　show　that　it
had　been　tampered　with　in　any　way　whatever。

Gradually；　however；　as　Dunn　held　it　to　the　fire；　there　appeared
between　the　lines　fresh　writing；　which　he　read　very　eagerly；　and
which　ran：

〃Jane　Dunsmore；　born　1830；　married；　against　family　wishes；　John
Clive　and　had　one　son；　John；　killed　early　this　year　in　a　motor…car
accident；　leaving　one　son；　John；　now　of　Ramsdon　Place　and　third　in
line　of　succession　to　the　Wreste　Abbey　property。〃

When　he　had　read　the　message　thus　strangely　and　with　such
precaution　conveyed　to　him；　Dunn　burnt　the　letter　and　went　that　day
about　his　work　in　a　very　grave　and　thoughtful　mood。

〃I　knew　it　couldn't　be　a　mere　coincidence；〃　he　mused。　　〃It　wasn't
possible。　　I　must　manage　to　warn　him；　somehow；　but；　ten　to　one；　he
won't　believe　a　word；　and　I　don't　know　that　I　blame　him　…　I　shouldn't
in　his　place。　　And　he　might　go　straight　to　Deede　Dawson　and　ruin
everything。　　I　don't　know　that　it　wouldn't　be　wiser　and　safer　to　say
nothing　for　the　present；　till　I'm　more　sure　of　my　ground　…　and　then
it　may　be　too　late。〃

〃Just　possibly；〃　he　thought；　〃the　job　Deede　Dawson　clearly　thinks
he　can　make　me　useful　in　may　have　something　to　do　with　Clive。　　If　so；
I　may　be　able　to　see　my　way　more　clearly。〃

As　it　happened；　Clive　was　away　for　a　few　days　on　some　business　he
had　to　attend　to；　so　that　for　the　present　Dunn　thought　he　could
afford　to　wait。

But　during　the　week…end　Clive　returned；　and　on　the　Monday　he　came
again　to　Bittermeads。

It　was　never　very　agreeable　to　Dunn　to　have　to　stand　aloof　while
Clive　was　laughing　and　chatting　and　drinking　his　tea　with　Ella　and
her　mother；　and　of　those　feelings　of　annoyance　and　vexation　he　made
this　time　a　somewhat　ostentatious　show。

That　his　manner　of　sulky　anger　and　resentment　did　not　go　unnoticed
by　Deede　Dawson　he　was　very　sure；　but　nothing　was　said　at　the　time。

Next　morning　Deede　Dawson　called　him　while　he　was　busy　in　the　garage
and　insisted　on　his　trying　to　solve　another　chess　problem。

〃I　haven't　managed　the　other　yet；〃　Dunn　protested。　　〃It's　not　too
easy　to　hit　on　these　key…moves。〃

〃Never　mind　try　this　one；〃　Deede　Dawson　said；　and　Ella；　going　out
for　a　morning　stroll　with　her　mother；　saw　them　thus；　poring　together
over　the　travelling　chess…board。

〃They　seem　busy；　don't　they？〃　she　remarked。　　〃Father　is　making　quite
a　friend　of　that　man。〃

〃I　don't　like　him；〃　declared　Mrs。　Dawson；　quite　vigorously　for　her。
〃I'm　sure　a　man　with　such　a　lot　of　hair　on　his　face　can't　be　really
nice；　and　I　thought　he　was　inclined　to　be　rude　yesterday。〃

〃Yes；〃　agreed　Ella。　　〃Yes；　he　was。　　I　think　Mr。　Clive　was　a　little
vexed；　though　he　took　no　notice；　I　suppose　he　couldn't　very　well。〃

〃I　don't　like　the　man　at　all；〃　Mrs。　Dawson　repeated。　　〃All　that
hair；　too。　　Do　you　like　him？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　Ella　answered；　and　after　she　and　her　mother　had
returned　from　their　walk　she　took　occasion　to　find　Dunn　in　the
garden　and　ask　him　some　trifling　question　or　another。

〃You　are　interested　in　chess？〃　she　remarked；　when　he　had　answered
her。

〃All　problems　are　interesting　till　one　finds　the　answer　to　them；〃
he　replied。

〃There's　one　I　know　of；〃　she　retorted。　　〃I　wish　you　would　solve
for　me。〃

〃Tell　me　what　it　is；〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃Will　you？〃

She　shook　her　head　slightly；　but　she　was　watching　him　very　intently
from　her　clear；　candid　eyes；　and　now；　as　always；　her　nearness　to
him；　the　infinite　appeal　he　found　in　her　every　look　and　movement；
the　very　fragrance　of　her　hair；　bore　him　away　beyond　all　purpose
and　intention。

〃Tell　me　what　it　is；〃　he　said　again。　　〃Won't　you？　　Miss　Cayley；　if
you　and　I　were　to　trust　each　other　…　it's　not　difficult　to　see
there's　something　troubling　you。〃

〃Most　people　have　some　trouble　or　another；〃　she　answered　evasively。

He　came　a　little　nearer　to　her；　and　instead　of　the　gruff；　harsh
tones　he　habitually　used；　his　voice　was　singularly　pleasant　and　low
as　he　said：　

〃People　who　are　in　trouble　need　help；　Miss　Cayley。　　Will　you　let　me
help　you？〃

〃You　can't；〃　she　answered；　shaking　her　head。　　〃No　one　could。〃

〃How　can　you　tell　that？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　　〃Perhaps　I　know　more
already　than　you　think。〃

〃I　daresay　you　do；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃I　have　thought　that　a　long
time。　　Will　you　tell　me　one　thing？　　…　Are　you　his　friend　or　not？〃

There　was　no　need　for　Dunn　to　ask　to　whom　the　pronoun　she　used
referred。

〃I　am　so　much　not　his　friend；〃　he　answered　as　quietly　and
deliberately　as　she　had　spoken。　　〃That　it's　either　his　life　or　mine。

At　that　she　drew　back　in　a　startled　way　as　though　his　words　had　gone
beyond　her　expectations。

〃How　do　I　know　I　can　trust　you？〃　she　said　presently；　half　to　herself；
half　to　him。

〃You　can；〃　he　said；　and　it　was　as　though　he　flung　the　whole　of　his
enigmatic　and　vivid　personality　into　those　two　words。

〃You　can；〃　he　said　again。　　〃Absolutely。〃

〃I　must　think；〃　she　muttered；　pressing　her　hands　to　her　head。　　〃So
much　depends　…　how　can　I　trust　you？　　Why　should　I　…　why？〃

〃Because　I'll　trust　you　first；〃　he　answered　with　a　touch　of
exultation　in　his　manner。　　〃Listen　to　me　and　I'll　tell　you
everything。　　And　that　means　I　put　my　life　in　your　hands。　　Well；
that's　nothing；　I　would　do　that　any　time；　but　other　people's　lives
will　be　in　your　power；　too　…　yes；　and　everything　I'm　here　for；
everything。　　Now　listen。〃

〃Not　now；〃　she　interrupted　sharply。　　〃He　may　be　watching；　listening
　…　he　generally　is。〃　　Again　there　was　no　need　between　them　to
specify　to　whom　the　pronoun　referred。　　〃Will　you　meet　me　tonight
near　the　sweet…pea　border　…　about　nine？〃

She　glided　away　as　she　spoke　without　waiting　for　him　to　answer；　and
as　soon　as　he　was　free　from　the　magic　of　her　presence；　reaction
came　and　he　was　torn　by　a　thousand　doubts　and　fears　and　worse。

〃Why；　I'm　mad；　mad；〃　he　groaned。　　〃I've　no　right　to　tell　what　I
said　I　would；　no　right　at　all。〃

And　again　there　returned　to　him　his　vivid；　dreadful　memory　of　how
she　had　started　on　that　midnight　drive　with　her　car　so　awfully　laden。

And　again　there　returned　to　him　his　old　appalling　doubt：　

〃Did　she　not　know？〃

And　though　he　would　willingly　have　left　his　life　in　her　hands；　he
knew　he　had　no　right　to　put　that　of　others　there；　and　yet　it
seemed　to　him　he　must　keep　the　appointment　and　the　promise　he　had
made。

About　nine　that　evening；　then；　he　made　his　way　to　the　sweet…pea
border；　though；　as　he　went；　he　resolved　that　he　would　not　tell　her
what　he　had　said　he　would。

Because　he　trusted　his　own　strength　so　little　when　he　was　with　her；
he　confirmed　this　resolution　by　an　oath　he　swore　to　himself：　and
even　that　he　was　not　certain　would　be　a　sure　protection　against　the
witchery　she　wielded。

So　it　was　with　a　mind　doubtful　and　troubled　more　than　it　had　ever
been　since　the　beginning　of　these　things　that　he　came　to　the　border
where　the　sweet…peas　grew；　and　saw　a　dark　shadow　already　close　by
them。

But　when　he　came　a　little　nearer　he　saw　that　it　was　not　Ella　who
was　there　but　Deede　Dawson　and　his　first　thought　was　that　she　had
betrayed　him。

〃That　you；　Dunn？〃　Deede　Dawson　hailed　him　in　his　usual　pleasant；
friendly　manner。

〃Yes；〃　Dunn　answered　warily；　keeping　himself　ready　for　any
eventuality。

Deede　Dawson　took　a　cigar　from　his　pocket　and　lighted　it　and　offered
one　to　Dunn；　who　refused　it　abruptly。

Deede　Dawson　laughed　at　that　in　his　peculiar；　mirthless　way。

〃Am　I　being　the　third　that's　proverbially　no　company？〃　he　asked。
〃Were　you　expecting　to　find　some　one　else　here？　　I　thought　I　saw　a
white　frock　vanish　just　as　I　came　up。〃

Dunn　made　no　answer；　and　Deede　Dawson　continued　after　a　pause

〃That's　why　I　waited。　　You　are　being　just　a　little　bit　rapid　in
this　affair；　aren't　you？〃

〃I　don't　know　why。　　You　said　something；　didn't　you？〃　muttered　Dunn；
beginning　to　think　that；　after　all；　Deede　Dawson's　presence　here
was　due　to　accident　…　or　rather　to　his　unceasing　and　unfailing
watchfulness；　and　not　to　any　treachery　of　Ella's。

〃Yes；　I　did；　didn't　I　？〃　he　agreed　pleasantly。　　〃But　you　are　a
working　gardener　taken　on　out　of　charity　to　give　you　a　chance　and
keep　you　out　of　gaol；　and　you　are　looking　a　little　high　when　you
think　of　your　master's　ward　and　daughter；　aren't　you？〃

〃There　was　a　time　when　I　shouldn't　have　thought　so；〃　answered　Dunn。

〃We're　talking　of　the　present；　my　good　man；〃　Deede　Dawson　said
impatiently。　　〃If　you　want　the　girl　you　must　win　her。　　It　can　be
done；　but　it　won't　be　easy。〃

〃Tell　me　how；〃　said　Dunn。

〃Oh；　that's　going　too　fast　and　too　far；〃　answered　the　other　with
his　mirthless　laugh。　　〃Now；　there's　Mr。　John　Clive　…　what　about
him？〃

〃I'll　answer　for　him；〃　replied　Dunn　slowly　and　thickly。　　〃I've　put
better　men　than　John　Clive　out　of　my　way　before　today。〃

〃That's　the　way　to　talk；〃　cried　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Dunn；　dare　you　play
a　big　game　for　big　stakes？〃

〃Try　me；〃　said　Dunn。

〃If　I　showed　you；〃　Deede　Dawson's　voice　sank　to　a　whisper；　〃if　I
showed　you　a　pretty　girl　for　a　wife　…　a　fortune　to　win　…　what　would
you　say？〃

〃Try　me；〃　said　Dunn　again；　and　then；　making　his　voice　as　low　and
hoarse　as　was　Dunn's；　he　asked：　

〃Is　it　Clive？〃

〃Later　…　perhaps；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。　　〃There's　some　one　else
　…　first。　　Are　you　ready？〃

〃Try　me；〃　said　Dunn　for　the　third　time；　and　as　he　spoke　his　quick
ear　caught　the　faint　sound　of　a　retreating　footstep；　and　he　told
himself　that　Ella　must　have　lingered　near　and　had　perhaps　heard　all
they　said。

〃Try　me；〃　he　said　once　more；　speaking　more　loudly　and　clearly　this
time。



CHAPTER　XIV

LOVE…MAKING　AT　NIGHT


Dunn　went　to　his　room　that　night　with　the　feeling　that　a　crisis　was
approaching。　　And　he　wished　very　greatly　that　he　knew　how　much　Ella
had　overheard　of　his　talk　with　her　stepfather；　and　what
interpretation　she　had　put　upon　it。

He　determined　that　in　the　morning　he　would　take　the　very　first
opportunity　he　could　find　of　speaking　to　her。

But　in　the　morning　it　appeared　that　Mrs。　Dawson　had　had　a　bad　night；
and　was　very　unwell；　and　Ella　hardly　stirred　from　her　side　all　day。

Even　when　Clive　called　in　the　afternoon　she　would　not　come　down；
but　s