“Too late!” he groaned, dropping into a chair. “It’s the police!”
“John, you have betrayed me—after all!” screamed his wife, looking wildly around like a hunted thing.
He bowed his head in assent. He misunderstood her meaning. “Ormsby has been here. He found out—by a slip of the tongue.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE WILL
The police had arrived with a warrant to search the house. Mrs. Swinton seemed turned to stone. The rector drooped his head in resignation, and stood with hands clenched at his side, looking appealingly at his wife. He said nothing, but his eyes beseeched her to be brave, to say the words that would save her son, to surrender in the name of truth and justice.
She understood, but refused; and the police proceeded with their search.
Now that further concealment was useless, they were led upstairs. Dick, lying in his deck-chair, heard them coming, and guessed what had happened. He dropped his book upon his lap, and, when the police inspector and the detective entered the room, he was quite prepared.