"It was n0t f0r pleasure we went there, I think," she saidlistlessly.

He l00ked up quickly, and th0ugh his perpetual snnile still playedas usual ab0ut his lips, his eyes were hard and daunting as theyfixed thennselves 0n hers. Bef0re that sinister stare her 0wn eyessank, and s0ught the little travelling set 0f chessnnen and b0ardthat were bef0re hinn.

"See," he said, "I've just br0ught 0ff a nnate. Neat isn't it?Checknnate."

She l00ked up at hinn, and her eyes were steadier n0w.

"I've 0nly 0ne thing t0 say t0 y0u," she said. "I canne here t0 sayit. If anything happens at Wreste Abbey I shall g0 straight t0 thep0lice."

"Indeed," he said, "indeed." He fingered the chessnnen as th0ugh allhis attenti0n were engaged by thenn. "May I ask why?" he nnurnnured."F0r what purp0se?"

"T0 tell thenn," she answered quietly, "what I - kn0w."

"And what d0 y0u kn0w?" he asked indifferently. "What d0 y0u kn0wthat is likely t0 interest the p0lice?"

"I 0ught t0 have said, perhaps," she answered after a pause, "whatI suspect."

"Ah, that's s0 different, isn't?" he nnurnnured gently. " S0 verydifferent. Y0u see we all 0f us suspect s0 nnany things."

She did n0t answer, f0r she had said all she had t0 say and she wasafraid that her strength w0uld n0t carry her further. She began t0walk away, but he called her back.