The suggestion that Vicky, finding rabbits poor sport, had added her stepfather to the bag, did not draw even a smile from Steel. He was rather shocked and extremely scornful of such far-fetched ideas; and he told Ermyntrude that she was not to worry her head over it any more.
She dabbed cautiously at her eyes. "You won't let that dreadful policeman take her away, Bob, will you? He's been at her already."
"Then he's a fool. But nothing's going to happen to Vicky, I give you my word."
"Oh, Bob, you are a comfort to me!" Ermyntrude said gratefully. "I feel better just for having seen you. Only you know what the law is, and if the Inspector was to get it into his head Vicky's done it, there isn't one of us could stop him taking her up for it!"
"Listen to me, Ermyntrude!" Steel said, looking very steadily at her. "You've got my word for it no harm's coming to Vicky. I told you you could depend on me, and I'm not a chap who says what he doesn't mean. Whatever happens, I won't let your girl get mixed up in this. Now, you trust me, and don't think another thing about it!" He gave her hand a final squeeze, and released it, rising to his feet. "I'm going home now, and you're going to get to bed, and have a good night's rest. That's what you need, and that's what I'm going to tell Mary."
Mary, when this piece of information was delivered to her, said that she had tried to put Ermyntrude to bed before dinner.
"She'll go now," Steel said. He turned to Vicky, and said abruptly: "So the police are on to you, are they?"
"Yes, I'm having a very crowded life all at once," replied Vicky. "Do you suppose I'll be arrested?"
"No. I've just set your mother's mind at rest about that. Don't you worry either! See?"
Vicky was quite entranced by this masterful speech, and no sooner had Steel left the house than she turned to Mary, and said: "Oh, I do think I've created a grand situation! Do you suppose he's going to give himself up in my stead?"