Part 27 (1/2)
”No, I don't believe you did it, my boy,” he said slowly ”But I do believe you know a lot otten that Sunday night--the last time I saw you?
Because if you have, I haven't! I taxed you then with knowing--or suspecting--that Anne Pendennis was mixed up with the affair in some way or other It was your own ht; for it was flight, as we both kno If I had done my duty I should have set the police on her; but I didn't, chiefly for Mary's sake,--she's fretting herself to fiddle-strings about the jade already, and it would half kill her if she knehat the girl really was”
”Stop,” I said, very quietly ”If you were any other man, I would call you a liar, Jim Cayley But you're Mary's husband and my old friend, so I'll only say you don't knohat you're talking about”
”I do,” he persisted ”It is you who don't or pretend you don't I've learned so even since you've been away I told you I believed both she and her father were ues; I spoke then on s to the same secret society that Cassavetti was connected with; there was an understanding between theh it's quite possible they hadn't eranium? That's their precious symbol”
”Did you say all this to Southbourne when he showed you the portrait that was found on Carson?” I interrupted
”What, you know about the portrait, too?”
”Yes; he showed it ht, when I went to him after the dinner It's not Anne Pendennis at all”
”But it is, nized it theabout it”
”You recognized it!” I echoed scornfully ”We all know you can never recognize a portrait unless you see the name underneath There was a kind of likeness I saw it myself; but it wasn't Anne's portrait! Now just you tell ht nohat you said to Southbourne Any of this nonsense about her and Cassavetti and the red symbol?”
”No,” he answered iether and made that out for myself, and I've never mentioned it to a soul but you”
I breathed more freely when I heard that
”I just said when I looked at the thing: 'hello, that's Anne Pendennis,'
and at that he began to question uessed he had some motive, so I was cautious I only told hi with us, but that I didn't know very much about her; she lived on the Continent with her father, and had gone back to him You see I reckoned it was none of irl, for Mary's sake, and yours But now, this has co Cassavetti Upon ht to have spoken out! And if you stand in danger”
”Listen to ive me your word of honor that, whatever happens, you'll never so much as mention Anne's name, either in connection with that portrait or Cassavetti; that you'd never give any one even a hint that she ht have been concerned--however innocently--in this ainst you?”
”That's ive your word--and keep it?”
”No”
”Very well If you don't, I swear I'll plead 'Guilty' to-morrow!”
CHAPTER XXVII
AT THE POLICE COURT