“If the noises are caused by Sorley,” said Dick leisurely, and rather uncomfortably, “and we find that he has gone to earth there, you can’t expect me to hold my tongue.”
“Uncle Ran is innocent,” protested Marie furiously.
“If he is—and I sincerely hope for your sake, that such is the case—it will be much better for him to come forward and face the worst. Otherwise, he will remain a hunted fugitive. Believe me, Miss Inderwick, by refusing to compound a felony—for that is what silence in this matter amounts to, as Alan will tell you—I am doing Mr. Sorley a greater service than you think.”
“I agree with Dick,” said Fuller quickly, and before Marie could make another protest; “it is best to bring matters to a head. If Mr. Sorley is indeed hiding at The Monastery, he is bound to be discovered some time, especially after the unconscious hint you gave Inspector Moon, my dear.”
“I don’t believe Uncle Ran is there,” declared Marie pouting. “If he were he would look to me to give him food and drink, and he knows—as I said before, Alan—that he can trust me. It is that horrid woman.”
“If Miss Grison is there, all the more reason Dick and I should sleep in the house, and learn what she is driving at.”
Latimer nodded. “I’ll come with you, Alan,” he said quickly. “Since Miss Grison is not in her house, it’s just possible she may be at Belstone.”
“When did you call to see her?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” explained Dick quietly. “I wished to learn how she knew that her precious brother had murdered a man outside Chin Chow’s opium den.”
“Moon told her that, and she swore that Baldwin was incapable of such a wicked deed,” replied Alan with a shrug; “she seems to have a most touching belief in the creature, even though he is dead.”