It gave me a certain shock. I knew that she had read a full report of the proceedings, but not that she, or any one, had drawn such a cruel conclusion from it.
“Confided, is the word, Audrey,” I answered, with difficulty levelling my voice. “I can’t be held responsible for that breach of trust. Yes, thank you for that smile; but I know what was in my heart, and it was to help Hugh over a difficult place I foresaw for him. My weakness was in thinking other men as honourable as myself. But, anyhow, your stab is rather misplaced, since I wasn’t ‘maligning,’ as you say, my friends to their enemies, but the other way about, as I see it.”
“Well, don’t see it,” she said insolently. “Perhaps—just consider it as possible—I may happen to know more about the Baron than you do.”
“O! I dare say he’s been yarning to you,” I answered, “and quite plausibly enough to a credulous listener. But, if I were you, I wouldn’t attach too much importance to what he tells you about himself. I’ll say no more as to my own suspicions, though events have not modified them, I can assure you; but I will say that regard for your brother should at least incline you to go warily in a matter which may have a very strong bearing on his interests.”
She stood conning me a moment or two in silence.
“Please to be explicit,” she said then. “Do you mean that you believe the Baron to be the real criminal?”
I positively jumped.
“Good Heavens!” I cried. “Don’t make me responsible for such wild statements. I mean only that, in the face of your brother’s awful situation, you should be scrupulously careful to do nothing which might seem to impair the efforts of those who are working to throw new light on it. I don’t say the Baron is the guilty one, but it is possible your brother is not.”
“Is that all?” she cried. She stepped right up to me, so that our faces were near touching. “Mr. Vivian Bickerdike,” she said, “Hugh did not commit that murder. I tell you, in case you do not know.”
“I never said he did,” I answered, involuntarily backing a little, her eyes were so pugnacious. “How you persist in misreading me! I only want to be prepared against all contingencies.”