Absolutely. I was struck dumb when I discovered her in the arms of the fellow. I couldnt really believe my own eyes. Then, after a pause, he asked in a lower tone, What secret of hers did he hold, I wonder?
Ah! what indeed.
To me, it is very evident that she met the fellow at that lonely spot under compulsion. She may have reciprocated his affection at one time, but her manner was inert and unresponsive. She allowed him to caress her because she was in deadly fear Im absolutely certain of that.
Then she didnt betray any love for him?
None whatever. In his reproaches, however, he reminded her of how she had once loved him and allowed him to think that he might aspire to her hand. He reproached her with cruelty and double-dealing, saying that she had betrayed him to his enemies, and that now, in return, he would reveal to the world her dark and terrible secret. This announcement electrified her. Until that moment she apparently had no idea of her peril, but instantly she saw that he held her future entirely in his hands and well, thats all.
I stood upon the hearthrug, my hands deep in my trouser-pockets, my back to the high, old stone overmantel that bore emblazoned the arms of the Scarcliffs, and remained silent. What could I say? What could I think of the woman who was in her room somewhere above in that great old mansion the woman who was, no doubt, still awake in terror of the morrow?
The stable clock clanged out half-past two, and presently Eric stepped on tip-toe to the door, opened it and looked down the great hall, dark, gloomy and mysterious, with its stands of armour, its tattered banners and its old carved furniture of centuries ago.
Across the hall he crept until lost in the darkness, and a few minutes later returned carrying two hats, and saying that all was quiet in the servants hall, and that everybody had gone to bed.
Then we closed the door, took a wooden chair to the window, opened it, and scrambled through, dropping noiselessly down upon the grass beyond.
We closed the old window behind us lest the night-watchman should discover it open and raise an alarm, and then started off together straight across the park, in the direction of the Long Avenue that led away for a mile and a half down to the village.
The night was bright and starlit, but over the grass hung a heavy white mist, especially in the hollows.
For a long time neither of us spoke, but presently, as we sped briskly along, Eric said,
We must pretend that Rainer has aroused our curiosity, otherwise the villagers will think our visit strange at this hour. Our first object must be to establish the fellows identity. At present we know his name to be Charles and thats all.
With this I agreed, and presently we arrived at the fine old Tudor gate-house, and passed out from the park into the broad highway that ran over Bow Hill to Chichester. Half a mile along the road we entered the quaint, peaceful little village of East Marden, with its ancient church and long row of comfortable cottages, now, however, in darkness. Five miles from the railway, it still preserved its rural traditions. There was no inn, and consequently little distress; the village retired early and rose with the sun, a pleasant little place prosperous under the proprietorship of the Scarcliffs.
Along the deserted little street we searched until we came to the constables cottage, in the window of which a light was burning, and knocking at the door it was opened by Mr Booth, as the villagers called him, a big, round-faced officer in constabulary uniform.
Oh! beg pardon, gentlemen! he exclaimed, recognising us. I thought it were Dr Richards. Theyve telephoned from the house to call him. He ought to be here by now.
Whats the matter, Booth? What has happened? I asked, stepping into his clean little parlour where his wife greeted us with a curtsey. Rainer came to us and said that somebody had been found dead, so we came out to hear all about it.
Yes, sir, thats right. John Harris found him some hours ago; but I was out on my beat across at Elsted, and they ad to fetch me. Ive been up to Charlton Wood and seen im, but Ive left im there till the govnor comes. Weve strict orders never to move a body without the superintendent sees it first.
But tell us all about it, I urged. Whos the man, and what has happened?
Well, John Harris was goin is round as usual, when is dog found a man lyin just inside the wood stone dead. Shot in the chest. The sight, of course, gave im a fright, an he comes down here quick and informs my missis. She told him to keep it dark, as we didnt want the whole village up there, an sent him up to the house to telephone to Midhurst to the divisional surgeon. Then they came out and found me.
You dont recognise the dead man? I asked with trepidation.
No. Es a stranger maybe a tramp.
You havent searched him?
Not yet. Im waiting for the doctor and the govnor. Ive telephoned to him in Chichester, only e may be out on inspection-duty.
And meanwhile the body is up in the wood? Is anybody there with it?
No, sir. We think it better to leave it there alone, otherwise the newsll spread and theyll tread out whatever marks of a struggle there maybe there. In an instant a serious thought occurred to me. Had the dead man on him any letter of Sybils or anything to connect her with him?
Well, I said a moment later in as unconcerned a tone as I could, were interested to see who the poor fellow is. Therefore well walk on up in the direction of the wood, and when Richards comes youll overtake us.
Very well, gentlemen, was the constables reply. But you wont tell anyone yet, will you? And you wont go into the wood and tread about? If theres been murder committed, as there seems to have been, then we must find the guilty party, he added seriously, this no doubt being the first really grave case he had ever had in all his eighteen years career.
Of course not, answered Eric. We shall wait for you, as we dont know where the body is.
Ah! I never thought o that, was Booths reply. All right, gentlemen, Ill be after you as soon as the doctor comes. Hell drive me on in his trap. And we said good-night to Mrs Booth, a rather frail, hard-working little woman, and went once more out into the broad high road.
We must act quickly. Come, hurry along, I exclaimed, as soon as we were beyond the village. We havent a second to spare.
Why? asked Domville in some surprise.
Didnt you say that we must save Tibbie? I asked. Cant you see her serious peril? The fellow may have on him some letter or something that may incriminate her. We must get there and search him before Booth brings the doctor. What fortune that the body has been left unattended.
But is it? Eric queried. Dont you think that Harris has spread the news among the other keepers and one or other of them are lurking near out of curiosity? Wouldnt it be infernally awkward for us if we were discovered rifling the dead mans pockets?
We must risk everything for Tibbies sake for the sake of the family, I declared decisively, and impelled by my words he hurried along at my side.
You have given it as your opinion that they were once lovers, I continued. Therefore, if he had come there to blackmail her, what more natural than that he should carry with him something by which to impress her with his power over her? At all costs, therefore, we must try and satisfy ourselves that there is nothing to incriminate her.