“But he wouldn’t know the girl. He has never seen her.”
“He could smell her,” said Mike instantly. “She lost a pair of gloves at the Towers to-day, and it’s any odds that they were stolen by the noble Gregory Penne, so that he might introduce to Bhag an unfailing scent.”
“I can’t believe it; it is incredible! Though I’ll admit,” said Jack Knebworth thoughtfully, “that these big apes do some amazing things. Did you shoot him?”
“No, sir, I didn’t shoot him, but I can tell you this, that he’s an animal that’s been gunned before, or he’d have come for me, in which case he would have been now fairly dead.”
“What were you doing round here, anyway?”
“Just watching out,” said the other carelessly. “The earnest detective has so many things on his conscience that he can’t sleep like ordinary people. Speaking for myself, I never intended leaving the garden, because I expected Brer Bhag. Who is that?”
The door opened, and a slim figure, wrapped in a dressing-gown, came out into the open.
“Young lady, you’re going to catch a very fine cold,” warned Knebworth. “What happened to you?”
“I don’t know.” She was feeling her wrist tenderly. “I heard something and went to the window, and then this horrible thing caught hold of me. What was it, Mr. Brixan?”
“It was nothing more alarming than a monkey,” said he with affected unconcern. “I’m sorry you were so scared. I guess the shooting worried you more?”