Part 8 (2/2)
”Will you answer that question?” Durham said.
”No, I will not. I will tolerate this no longer.”
With a quick, angry gesture she turned to the door.
Durham was on his feet and in front of her before she could take two steps.
”Until I have seen your servant, Mrs. Eustace, you will remain here,” he said. ”Will you kindly come with me, Mr. Harding?”
He held the door open while Harding pa.s.sed out, following him without another word.
But there was little to be ascertained from Bessie more than she had already told. She heard the door slam and her mistress go to the kitchen door, but whether she went on to the dining-room or not, Bessie ”didn't notice.”
”Could you see out of the window at the time?” Durham asked.
”No, sir, I was in the scullery was.h.i.+ng up,” the girl replied.
Mrs. Eustace, much to Harding's surprise, was still in the dining-room on their return. The papers Durham had placed on the table were untouched.
”I am sorry to have had to detain you, Mrs. Eustace. For the present I have nothing further to ask you. These papers you had better take--I have no doubt they were left for you.”
”What do you mean--left for me?” she exclaimed.
”A woman of your quick intelligence, Mrs. Eustace, scarcely needs to be told,” he answered, adding, as he turned to Harding, ”I would like a few moments with you in the office.”
In the little ante-room that Eustace had used as his private office, Durham turned the searchlight of his questions upon Harding.
”Have you known Mr. Eustace for very long?”
”I have only known him personally since I came to this branch a few weeks ago.”
”Did you apply to be sent here?”
”No. I knew nothing about it until I received instructions to come.”
”Did you know Mrs. Eustace before you came here?”
”Not as Mrs. Eustace.”
”You knew her before she was married?”
”Yes.”
”Well?”
”Yes.”
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