Part 50 (1/2)
”Ibadly hurt when I lifted the car off Jim, and that I did notmoved,” dick broke in
Bernard stopped hied s no proof of his stateo There is obviously no use inhis tale Suppose I admit that it's correct?”
”Jim is the injured party He must choose our line”
”There is only one line,” Ji cannot be talked about Lance knoe know I cannot punish him in any laay; but if he stops at Dryholo”
Bernard nodded and looked at his watch ”A week is too long! If you pack quickly, Lance, you can get the express to town Anyhow, you will leave Dryholm as soon as the car is ready But I ht have made your mark in a useful profession had I not allowed you to think you would inherit part of my estate, I will tell my lawyers to pay you a sum quarterly If you come back to cun of agreelanced at dick
”You have won, but I doubt if you have round for satisfaction,”
he said and went out
dick was vaguely puzzled, but when the door shut the others were conscious of keen relief They waited until Mordaunt's steps died away and then Bernard got up
”What has happened to-night is done with; I think you understand,” he said, and turned to Mrs Halliday ”We will join our friends, and if they wonder e have been absent so long, ill leave you to satisfy their curiosity”
They found the others in the drawing-rooan to talk and Bernard was now and then ironically humorous, dick was quiet and Jio when Mrs
Halliday got up, but Bernard kept Carrie acar throbbed at the steps
”This house is big and empty, my dear,” he said ”If Ji him now and then”
Carrie wondered when the car rolled off Bernard had pressed her hand and his voice was gentle She blushed, for his inificant, but it was puzzling He knew Ji todown beckoned Jake
”You can drive ho we ”
Carrie started the car and when it rolled away Jake looked at his coht coat over his dinner jacket; the road et and the low ground dotted by shi+ning pools It was soentle breeze blew across theclouds
”I suppose you ht be wiser to send him notice to quit You can't put the police on his track”
”I' to see him If I hadn't been able to sell, Carrie would have been drowned”
”For that matter, ould all have been drowned,” Jake said dryly
”It's a curious argu Shanks alone I suspected we took some chances e blew up the dabbin”
”You blew up the dabbin,” Jake rejoined
”Anyhow, Carrie had nothing to do with the thing, and she ran the worst risk ere on the sands It was hard to hold o, buthim don't apply to Shanks”