“No,” he said with a slight smile, “but by him. If anything has happened to Perry—which God forbid!—Worth will do his utmost to lay it at my door. The very fact of my having recommended Tyler to Perry, though I did it to avert this very event, gives him a weapon.”
“You did it to avert—you placed him with Perry to guard him?”
“Yes, to guard him. I have been uneasy these many weeks. Judith, who put the man Hinkson in Perry’s service?”
“Hinkson! Why, no one! Perry stood in need of a groom; Hinkson applied for the post. I know nothing more than that, cousin.”
“Nor I, but I have long believed him to be in Worth’s pay.”
“What reason have you for saying such a thing? I cannot credit it!”
“The man was never a groom in his life. There is part of my reason for you. For the rest, can you tell me why Perry’s groom should be seen going into Worth’s house? I have seen that.”
She was startled, but a moment’s reflection caused her to reply with a good deal of calm sense: “When I have had occasion to send a message to Lord Worth, Hinkson has very often been charged with it. I cannot allow his having been seen by you to be a reason for supposing him in Worth’s pay.”
“Where was Hinkson yesterday when Perry set out for Worthing?”
“He was in some tavern—I cannot tell you which. He was drunk.”