She shivered.
“No, not that time. I’ve seen him, of course. He gives me the creeps! I’ve never seen anything so human. Sometimes, when Gregory was a little—a little drunk, he used to bring Bhag out and make him do tricks. Do you know that Bhag could do all the Malayan exercises with the sword! Sir Gregory had a specially made wooden sword for him, and the way that that awful thing used to twirl it round his head was terrifying.”
Michael stared at her.
“Bhag could use the sword, then? Penne told me he did, but I thought he was lying.”
“Oh, yes, he could use the sword. Gregory taught him everything.”
“What is Penne to you?” Michael asked the question bluntly, and she coloured.
“He has been a friend,” she said awkwardly, “a very good friend of mine—financially, I mean. He took a liking to me a long time ago, and we’ve been—very good friends.”
Michael nodded.
“And you are still?”
“No,” she answered shortly, “I’ve finished with Gregory, and am leaving Chichester to-morrow. I’ve put the house in an agent’s hands to rent. Poor Mr. Foss!” she said, and there were tears in her eyes. “Poor soul! Gregory wouldn’t have done it, Mr. Brixan, I’ll swear that! There’s a whole lot of Gregory that’s sheer bluff. He’s a coward at heart, and though he has done dreadful things, he has always had an agent to do the dirty work.”