Part 13 (1/2)
”Then you aren't at all superst.i.tious about--this.” I indicated that eery, desolate lagoon with its craggy margin, stretching away like a ghost-lake in the gray light. As always the tidal waves were bursting with ferocious, lunging onslaughts on the natural rock wall, and the foam gleamed incredibly white against the dark water.
”Not in the least,” she answered me. ”I don't like the place when the tide's rolling in--it's too rough and too fierce--but it's lovely in the ebb-tide! Did you ever see anything so still as it is then--the water's edge creeping inward, and such a wonderful blue-green? No, I'm not superst.i.tious about it at all. I'm going swimming, one of these nights, when the tide's going out. I'd cross it to-night in an emergency.”
”You're a strong swimmer, then.”
”I can swim well enough--nothing to boast of though. Ned”--for we had got to the first name stage, long since--”this whole matter will be cleared up in a few days more. Such things always do come out right. I wouldn't be surprised if that poor man's body should be found any day, dragged into some thicket. The rocks are full of caves--perhaps the drag hooks simply failed to find it.”
”And your uncle--he feels the way you do?”
”Of course. If you are talking about that silly legend--it gives him only the keenest delight as a big story to tell his friends. He has no more superst.i.tious fear about this lagoon than I have.”
”Have you talked to him since the inquest?”
”You know I haven't.”
”He got two telegrams to-day. They seemed to go mighty hard with him. I was wondering--whether you ought to go to him now.”
A little line came between her straight brows. ”I can't imagine what they could be----” she said.
”The loss of some friend? Financial loss, perhaps----?”
”I don't know. The latter, if anything. For I do know he's been buying certain stocks--awfully heavy.”
”Playing the stock market, eh----?”
”I don't think I should have told you that. But I know you won't say anything about it. Oh, I do hope he hasn't had any real misfortune----”
Our talk veered to other subjects, and for a while we stood and watched the twilight descending over the lagoon. The crags were never so mysterious. They seemed to take weird shapes in the half-light, and the water sucked and lapped about their stony feet.
In a little while her hand stole into mine. It rested softly, and neither of us felt the need of words. The twilight deepened into that pale darkness of the early Floridan night.
”How I'd like to help him, if he's in trouble,” she said at last, almost whispering. ”And how I'd like to help you--do all the things you want to do.”
”I'm glad--that you care about it,” I told her, not daring to look down into that sober, wistful face.
”I _do_ care about it,” she declared. She bent, until her lips were close to my ear. ”And I believe I see the way.”
CHAPTER XIV
Nealman did not come down to dinner. He sent his apologies to the guests, pleading a headache, and through some mayhap of circ.u.mstance the coroner took his place at the head of the great, red-mahogany table.
There was a grim symbolism in the thing. No one mentioned it, not one of those aristocratic sportsmen were calloused enough to jest about it, but we all felt it in the secret places of our souls.
The session at Kastle Krags was no longer one of revelry. I could fancy the wit, the repartee, the gaiety and laughter that had reigned over the board the evening previous; but Nealman's guests were a sober group to-night. At the unspoken dictates of good taste no man talked of last night's tragedy. Rather the men talked quietly to one another or else sat in silence. A burly negro, rigged out in a dinner coat of ancient vintage, helped with the serving in Florey's place.
After dinner I halted the sheriff in the hall, and we had a single moment of conversation. ”Slatterly,” I said, ”I want you to give me some authority.”
”You do, eh?” He paused, studying my face. ”What do you want to do?”
”I want your permission--to go about this house and grounds where and when I want to--and no complications in case I am caught at it. Maybe even go into some of the private rooms and effects of the guests. I want to follow up some ideas that I have in mind.”