The Mystery of the Downs | Page 9

of the door. Naturally I thought Mr. Lumsden had left it there--that when he saw the storm he had gone to the stable or cowshed to attend to a horse or a cow. I went inside the house, expecting he would be back every moment. When I heard your knock I thought it was he."
"I am afraid you must think me a dreadful boor," he said. "I apologize most humbly."
She replied with a breadth of view that in its contrast with his ungenerous suspicions added to his embarrassment.
"No, you were quite right," she said. "As I asked you to keep my name out of it--as I virtually asked you to show blind trust in me--you were at least entitled to the fullest explanation of how I came to be there."
"And I hope you quite understand that I do trust you absolutely," he said. "I know as well as it is possible to know anything in this world that you were not connected in the remotest way with the death of this man."
Having been lifted out of the atmosphere of suspicion, she felt she could safely enter it again.
"I was not quite candid with you when I asked you to keep me out of the dreadful tragedy because of the way I would be talked about," she said, placing a penitent and appealing hand on his arm. "There are other reasons--one other reason at least--why I do not want it known I was at Cliff Farm to-night."
He was prepared to shield her if she was prepared to take the risk of being shielded.
"That alters the case," he said. "My reluctance to keep your name out of it arose from the fear that you did not realize the risk you would run."
"I realize it," she said. "And I wish to thank you for pointing it out so clearly. But it is a risk I must take."
"In that case you can rely on me."
"You will keep my name out of it?" she asked.
"I will tell no one," he replied.
CHAPTER III
"It seems to me as if the storm is abating," said Sir George Granville to his week-end guest.
He moved a piece on the chess-board and then got up from his chair and went to the window to listen to the rain on the glass.
His guest was so intent on the chess-board that he did not reply. Sir George Granville remained at the window, his attention divided between watching for his opponent's next move and listening to the storm.
Sir George's opponent was a young man; that is to say, he was under forty. He was evidently tall, and his well-cut clothes indicated that he possessed the well-built frame which is the natural heritage of most young Englishmen of good class. But his clear-cut, clean-shaven face suggested that its owner was a man of unusual personality and force of character. It was a remarkable face which would have puzzled the student in physiognomy. The upper portion was purely intellectual in type, the forehead broad, and the head well-shaped, but the dark eyes, with a touch of dreaminess and sadness in their depths, contrasted strangely with the energy and determination indicated by the firm mouth and heavy lower jaw.
The guest moved a piece and then looked at his host.
"You are not yourself to-night, Sir George," he said. "I think we had better finish this game some other time, or cancel it."
Sir George walked over to the table and looked at the position on the chess-board.
"Perhaps it would be better to cancel it," he said, "though it is generous on your part to offer to do so, with a piece to the good and the threatening development of your pawns on the queen's side. But I am off my game to-night. I am too worried about that nephew of mine to give you a good game."
"It is a bad night to be out," said the guest. "But surely he would find shelter somewhere in the downs."
"He may have met with an accident. He must have seen this storm coming. He should have been home hours ago in any case."
"Putting aside the possibility of an accident, the fact that he hasn't turned up in the storm indicates that he has found shelter," said the guest. "He is waiting until the storm is over."
"But on the downs there are so few places where one can obtain shelter except at a shepherd's cottage."
Sir George sat down in an arm-chair near the fire and invited his guest to take the chair on the other side. The room they were in was a large one, expensively furnished in black oak. The small chess-table with the chess-board and men had been placed near the large table in the centre of the room for the benefit of the light, but the autumn night was chilly,