"That's right," he continued, with a patronising smile. "Keep quiet and listen!"
For the moment, however, there was nothing for me to listen to, since Marston sat silent, watching with evident enjoyment the concern which I betrayed. He had chosen the easiest way with me. The least hint of condescension in another's voice always made me conscious in the extreme of my own shortcomings, and I felt that I lay helpless in some new toils of his weaving.
At last he spoke.
"You killed Count Lukstein."
I was prepared for the accusation by his previous words.
"Well?" I asked, in as natural a tone as I could command.
"Well," he returned, "I would not be too hard with you. What if you returned to Cumberland to-day, and stayed there? Your estates, I am sure, will thrive all the better for their master's supervision."
"My estates," I replied, "have a steward to supervise them. Their master will return to them at no man's bidding."
"It is a pity, a very great pity," said he thoughtfully, flicking his switch in the air. "For not only are you unwise in your own interests, but you drive me to a proceeding which I assure you is very repugnant and distasteful to my nature. Really, Mr. Buckler, you should have more consideration for others."
The smooth irony of his voice began to make my anger rise.