“It’s a case of the biter bit,” observed Lawless. “Looks as though they had intended murdering him... A silly sort of a game.”
“Do you think Van Bleit will hang for it?” she asked presently.
“It’s impossible to say. If it pans out at a term of imprisonment it’s checkmate. I’ve a mind to wash my hands of the job.”
Tottie looked up.
“Don’t do that,” she said earnestly. “The Colonel might take it that his suspicions were justified, if you did.”
“I don’t care a damn what he thinks. If a man can’t trust me, he can do the other thing.”
“But I care,” she said quickly. “I’m jealous for your honour, Grit.”
He lifted his head and surveyed her in surprise.
“You!” he said.
Then he laughed awkwardly at the half-shamed admiration he surprised in the woman’s eyes. She turned her face aside quickly, and resumed her reading of the paper.