The Thousandth Woman

think he can't

shining mirror. But below the lock there had been something to do, and Blanche had done it deftly and silently, with almost equal capacity and grace. It had given her a charming flush and sparkle; and, what with the

y. "I wouldn't trust old Savage an inch. I've been thinking about him and his precious evidence. Do you realize that it's quite dark now soon after seven? It was pretty th

lusion that Scruton could not possibly have killed Mr. Craven, whatever else he might have done in days gone by. So it simply was impossible, and anybody who

t, except, indeed, in the matter of heated emphasis and scornful asseveration. It was difficult, however, to know what line he really took; for while he scouted the very notion of uncorroborated identification by old Savage, he discredited with equal warmth all Toye

ical mind nor the unfailing courtesy of the new. That being so, with her perception she might have changed the subject; but she could see that Cazalet

n his eyes as they fell once more upon the red turrets and the smooth green lawn

wn still," he said detachedly. "

to a nursing home b

re's nobo

if there was, does i

uld you very much mind, Blanche? I should rat

looked her in the face. But this all seemed natural to Blanche, in the manifold and overlapping circumstances of the case. She made for the inlet at the upp

nly one, or the worst; some day I'll tell you how I know, but you may take it from me that's so. The real villain's gone to his account. I won't pretend I'm sorry for him. De mortuis doesn't apply if y

olice might have something up their sleeves, and be given a chance. But Blanche understood him. And no

nd in you, at any rate! And I'll help yo

but only as he might

d been down to the depths, and I'd come up a bit; then he was good to me as a lad, and it was my father's partner who was

et. Cazalet knew every knot in the p

each. The grounds were five or six acres instead of about one, and a house in quite

s path was screened from the lawn by a bank of rhododendrons, as of course were the back yard and kitchen premises, past which it led into the front garden, eventually debouching into th

aid bitterly. "But so I

he one improvement. Don't you remember how the path ran round

d see where the old gateway had been bricked. The rhododendrons topped the yard wall at that point, masking it from the

west. But for the fact that these windows were wide open, the whole place seemed as deserted as Littleford; but just past the windows, a

ully built and rather handsome in his way; his top-hat shone like his patent-leather boots, and his gray cutaway suit hung well in front and was duly crea

ing here?" he demanded bl

en they were both obviously in the wrong, and she greatly admired the tone he took so readily. "I know we've no business here whatever; but it h

tiated by the earlier of these remarks, but

ng Mr. Cazal

as," laughed Cazalet

mind betting!" exclaimed the other with a je

o lay my hands on," said Cazalet. "But, as I tell you, my ship only got in from Australia last night,

wn. "Well, Mr. Cazalet, my name's Drinkwater, and I'm f

part of that very afternoon. And this was also easy to understand on reflection; for if he meant to stand by the hapless Scruton, guilty or not guilty, he could not perhaps begin b

inued, "but I see you're still sea

auntered on with him to the corner of the house, and seen a bowler ha

e," he said; "that is, barring alterations," as Blanche cau

alf-hunter, suitably inscribed in memory of one of his more bloodless victories. But Cazalet could alwa

rred to me, Mr. Drinkwater, that pe

that, Mr.

where-the r

mile. "You can show me if you like," said he indiff