The Crime Club

ok him by the arm and said very quickly

quizzical look and accompa

ay anything at all, and did not attempt to break the

infinite use to him. He had discovered that there was, without doubt, a definite connection be

fficient fo

e, to get at the actual facts prompted him to take Melun into

of the earth at the Prime Minister's reception. Therefore he was in a far less tractable frame of mind than was pleasant to Westerham. The captain, indeed, had got back t

softly, "that you had better

a man who is disturbed by the yelling of a couple of girls is not

ight, sea-gree

ot to keep women out of it. Now, whatever your scheme may be, it cannot be of very particular magnitude

se to enlighten you. I agreed to betray the secrets of the prison house, or rather to let you see ho

d Westerham, "you will find it c

n only laughed.

exasperation as he ever

coerce you," he

nto your calculations. You forget that Lord Penshurst-I admit that your suspicions of a tie between

this point, and was p

might suit my convenience to b

elun, angrily; "you do

mean?" demand

y, "that I can strike back

Westerham clen

since I met you first I knew you were a blackmailer, I did n

again; when he did his voice was even and

ot know, and it would simply be idle on my part to pretend that I did. But I have the capacity of being infinitely patient, and sooner or later I sh

"For the present," he said, "you may go, but if I wer

hat and stick an

hen I am bid, but possibly you may not find

ng. Now he thought long and hard for two hours. He argued the matter out with himself in all its respects, and though he had determined not

rse, there could be no doubt that Lady Kathleen was well acquainted w

leen and explaining the whole position to her that about noon he made his

serve that the blinds were drawn down, and immediately the door was opened

et with the grave reply that her ladyship had left that

raced his steps to the hotel. The departure of Lady Kathleen to some slight extent unsettled his mi

er there was the further possibility that the Premier would be adamant in his refusal to disclose his troubles. And in that case he would be abs

e entirely cut off from those whom he wished to befri

r his mind, comforting himself on this score with t

ity, he was resolved to make one last effor

but to his rooms in Bruton Street, from which h

mmaculate and discreet servant with whom the youthf

ed and waited, with that urbane silence which

her shabby clothes which Westerham was wearing, though Wester

things," he said, "you had bett

cent motor car which he had casually bought in the course of an afternoon's walk. In about twenty minutes We

Hall well within two hours, and he had no desire to arrive too soon. The chauffeur, also supplied by Lord Dunton, was the same manner of man as his valet. Westerham apprec

the matter. It was not his habit to think what he should say when he met a certain man or a ce

en it occurred to Westerham that it might possibly be unwise to make too bold an entry

park. Having asked where this lay, Westerham got out of the car and proceeded on foot down the leafy avenue. At the end of th

e. For from the wall the green turf sloped downwards, while before him

deer park by any other route, and had received an answer in the negative. Therefore he decided it w

he steps, and, lighting a cigarette,

re amid some distant trees. The figure grew in size and in distinctnes

gure seemed for the moment old and bowed. Her app

some slight shock. That, however, was inevitable

ittle cry escaped her lips as she saw Westerham sitting there. She stop

r before he spoke, so he merely removed his hat

of amusement in her eyes, but whatever humour she might have felt at his appearance was drowned

pealing gesture of her hands, "it is

said Westerham, "if you did b

d rather wearily a

in a slightly shaky voic

to his as though to sear

"have you a sufficiently good opinion of me to

myself," she said, wit

re you that if you will only hear me out you will not regret it-at least

explain," he went on, "and so I think

by the hand and led her gently to the step

, "I was sufficiently honest to s

out to speak, but he

d already. I only did what any ordinary decent man would do. I have no desire to dwell on t

an," she cried; "you

Lady Kathleen with

id not know him then," he sa

ed a look of s

d I know Melun, and I k

een's face

else?" s

nd that, of course, is obvious-that you and your father go in deadly fear of all the thr

ly out of the question. The secr

o Lord Penshurst,

fore she answered. "No," she said at last, slowly

ould merely regard me as one who

irl n

" Westerham laughe

him straight in the face. "I w

ed with almost

le situation. If you would only co

t one of Melun's dupes. I am not of a certainty one of his

me for. My resources are practically limitless, and without b

Kathleen gave him the sa

ill tell you," she said quietly, "but Melun decl

so great was the sincerity of his ton

you are not.

her hands and rocked to

stung to desperation, "am I not right in

nodded he

friend, I should be regarded as an interloper, possibly a danger, because I knew of your father

know," she cried, "you are as great a fiend as Melun to persecute me in

ecause if I did I sh

sterham drew a st

eress o

ress of not one, but many. As it is I can at leas

sacr

cannot hide it from you always. I fear that there is no

ess

he girl, and her v

hands gently and wi

softly, "you all

way from his and alm

o!" sh

e of a complete breakdown, that Westerham realised it would be me

ying as if her heart would break. But he could do nothing. It was with a blind rage against Melun

ed to himself the words: "Murderess!"

esolved to call

elp to solve all thi

e throbbing of the engine, and he was still muttering to himself "Murderess!" "Sacrifice!" "Sa