Fear, irrepressible however you tried, began to crawl through Martin.
"I pass no comment," said Lady Brayle, "on what does not concern me. Still, When Jennifer left the inn, I believe you were rushing in a somewhat frenzied manner across the road. You were calling the name of a young lady whom — all — I think I have met in the past as well as today."
The old dragon's eyes seemed deliberately to seek Ruth without finding her. Martin, with a sick sensation, felt the props kicked out from under him.
"Jennifer, no doubt for some good reason, wished to visit some friends in London. Their address would not interest you. She left for the train in one taxi, while I came here in another."
Now, as Lady Brayle looked very hard at his own imperturbability, there was a grudging respect in her tone.
"Captain Drake, I have little respect for law. I would cheerfully steal and if necessary I would kill. But I am not a liar. Good-day."
Her flat-heeled footsteps, and Aunt Cicely's light ones, faded away. Stannard still sat motionless, watching the scene with less than amusement behind the pyramid of his finger-tips. Ruth kept one hand pressed to her breast, watching Martin. It was Ricky who spoke.
"You understand now what I meant, old boy?"
"Yes. I've understood that all along."
"What are you going to do?"