"No, I am doubtful now if you are guilty. I cannot say; but I shall not tell the police just now; I will see you again. One thing, don't go near Mrs. Marshall." And he left, his brain in a perfect whirl.
"Won't I just!" growled Job. "I'll get some more money out of her and cut the country. No, I won't." Here he sniffed the petroleum. "I'll try that game first. The Gentiles chuck me; the Romany won't have me! There ain't nothing but that," he sniffed again, "for poor Job!" And he swore.
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS.
Geoffrey was at Hollyoaks when Mr. Cass arrived home. He had come over simply to see Ruth, never dreaming that any further revelations about the case awaited him. But his host lost no time, and at once invited him and Neil Webster into the library. There he left them for a moment while he went upstairs to see his daughter and tell her that all was well with her aunt.
"You need not trouble your head, my dear," he said. "Your aunt got that pocket-book from Job, who"--here, for obvious reasons, he suppressed the truth--"who picked it up on the road. Now, is your mind at rest?"
"Completely." She kissed her father fondly. "But Geoffrey! I sent down to say that I was ill; he will be disappointed."
"I will speak to him. Meanwhile try and get some sleep. You can see him another time."
In this way he managed to set her mind at rest; then he returned to the library to have the matter out with the two young men. He found a letter lying on the table, and, making some excuse, opened it at once; for he had become so accustomed now to the occurrence of unforeseen events that the sight of an envelope addressed in an unknown hand made him anxious lest it should bring some new element of trouble.
"Ah, Neil," he said, as he ran his eyes over the contents, "this is from the prison chaplain. Your mother wishes to see me."