On entering that house Orr was shown into the drawing-room. Shortly, from a room beyond, Annandale appeared.
"You have heard, have you not?" he asked. "But come in here."
Orr followed him to the other room. In it was a sideboard on which decanters stood.
"Will you have something?"
Orr thanked him. Annandale helped himself to a liquor. As he did so the decanter clicked against the glass and, as he raised the glass, Orr saw that his hand shook.
"It is very strange," said Annandale, repeating almost the words which Orr had used to Sylvia. "I had no cause to love the man, but——"
"I know," Orr interrupted. "My cousin told me. But if I were you I would not talk of it. She seemed worried lest you might."
Annandale put down the glass. He was quite flushed. "But," he exclaimed, "she does not suspect me!"
"Of course not. On the contrary. But then the fact suggests a motive which, coupled with any threat you may have made, might, in the absence of other clues, made a prima facie case, which to say the least, don't you see, would be nasty."
"Damnably so!" Annandale muttered dumbly. Then, raising the glass again, he threw out: "But what nonsense! A little after you had all gone from here I went to your cousin's——"