Part 42 (1/2)
”No; I am well aware that you were too cowardly to draw the knife across my throat. But you enticed me to dine with you: you put a narcotic into my wine and conveyed me to that house--for what purpose? Why, so that your cowardly accomplice might kill me.” He was thoroughly alarmed.
She evidently knew the whole circ.u.mstances, and it was useless, he thought, to conceal the truth.
”If--if I admit all this, may I not ask your pardon--your mercy?”
”Mercy!” she repeated. ”What mercy did you show me when I was helpless in your hands? Only by a mere vagary of Fate I am not now in my grave.
You thought you were safe--that your holy habiliments would prevent you being recognised as the man with whom I dined. But you made a great mistake, and I have found you.”
”Will you not accept my apology?” he asked in a low voice.
”Upon one condition only.”
”What is that?” he inquired eagerly.
”That you tell me the reasons which caused you to drug me, and the name of the scoundrel who a.s.sisted you,” she replied calmly.
Their conversation was interrupted at this juncture by the reappearance of the verger, who inquired whether he would be wanted any more, as he had locked up the church, and was ready to go to his dinner. Holt replied in the negative, and the feeble old man departed, swinging his great bunch of jingling keys as he went.
When they were alone, the artist's model again referred to her stipulation, and pressed for an answer.
”No,” he replied decisively, ”I cannot tell you--I cannot.”
”For what reason, pray?”
”The reason is best known to myself,” he answered, endeavouring to a.s.sume an air of unconcern.
”You flatly refuse?”
”I do.”
”In that case, then, I shall call the police, and have you arrested.”
”No, my G.o.d! not that!” he cried; ”anything but that.”
”Ah, I can quite understand that police inquiries would be distasteful to you.”
She paused, reflecting whether she should hazard a statement which she had overheard among other things in the conversation of her janitors at the lonely house near Twickenham.
At length she resolved to make an a.s.sertion, and watch its effect.
”If I'm not mistaken,” she continued, regarding him closely, ”the police are very desirous of interviewing you. They might like to hear some of your glib remarks about spiritual welfare, like those you made in the pulpit this morning.”
”I don't understand you.”
”If I speak plainer possibly you will. Some months ago a man was found dead on the railway. The affair is being investigated by the police, and--”
”G.o.d! You know of that!” he cried hoa.r.s.ely, as he rushed towards her, and gripped her white throat with his hands in a frenzy of madness.
”Speak lower--whisper--or--”
”No,” urged Dolly, as coolly as she was able. ”It would only add another crime to your list. Besides, if you comply with my stipulations, your secret will still be safe.”
Her words had the desired effect. He released his hold, and, grasping her hand, pleaded forgiveness.