"He won't. I expect that he'll marry Mrs. Rover after her months of mourning are over."
"Ah, yes. Ned mentioned that Jadby had murdered Dolly. How did it happen, Mona, my dear?"
The girl shuddered, and took away the tray. "I don't think Captain Jadby meant to kill him," she said in a low voice. "Madame Marie denies that he did. But Mr. Rover's heart was weak, and so——"
"Give me that cigarette, and tell me all about it from the beginning, dear," said Prelice coaxingly.
Mona did as she was asked, as he really now looked much the better for the food and the night's rest. In fact, Prelice was in such good spirits that he apologised for his untidy appearance. "I must look a regular Bill Sikes with this rough chin," he said, passing his hand over his face. "Oh, how delicious this cigarette is. Well?"
"I'll tell you all as quickly as I can," said Miss Chent, sitting beside him, and allowing him to hold her hand, on the principle that sick people must be humoured. "You know that Captain Jadby carried me off in a motor car."
"Infernal insolence——"
"Hush, George; the poor wretch is dead, so I forgive him everything."
"All right. I'll try and be a Christian such as you are, although it is not easy. Fire ahead."
"I started to walk to Hythe to catch the train to Folkstone in order to see Lady Sophia," explained Mona slowly. "I did not know that she had returned to London. Just as I got into the belt of woods between Hythe and the Downs a motor car met me, coming up. Captain Jadby was driving it."