“You mean——?”
“I mean that, if folks think I murdered my uncle, I would just as soon they said so straight out, as come poking around asking questions and trying to trap me,” Anthony retorted bitterly.
John Steadman finished lighting his cigarette and blew a couple of spirals in the clear air before he spoke, then he said slowly:
“The thought that you murdered your Uncle Luke is about the last that would enter my head, Tony. No. What I wanted to ask you was, does that job of yours stand—bear-leader to the young brother of a friend of yours, I mean. The last time I saw you, you spoke as if it were off.”
“So it is!” Anthony returned moodily. “People don't want a man who is as good as accused of murdering his own uncle to look after their children. I might strangle the kid if he got tiresome.”
The barrister paid no attention to this outburst.
“Then I think I heard of something yesterday that may suit you. A friend of mine has a son who was frightfully injured in the War. Both his legs have been amputated and one wrist is practically helpless. Now he wants some one to act as his secretary, for he has taken to writing novels, passes the time for him, you know, and folks need not read them if they don't want to.”
“It is very good of you to think of me,” Anthony said gratefully. “But I don't know that I should make much hand at secretarial work. And probably he wouldn't look at me if he knew.”
“He does know,” contradicted John Steadman. “And he is quite anxious to have you. It won't be all secretarial work, though you will be called a secretary. But you will be wanted to motor with him, to go with him to race meetings; he is a great motoring enthusiast—keeps two touring cars. Before the War he was one of our finest amateur jockeys, and they say he never misses a meeting under N.H. rules now. I believe he even has a couple of hurdlers at one of the big trainers. You will have to go with him wherever he wants you. How does it strike you?”
“The question is, how shall I strike him?” Tony countered. “Will he think he is safe with me?”