The old man's eyes glittered dangerously. 'Take care,' he said. 'One day you'll push me too far. Get rid of this man. That's all I ask. Get rid of him and let the Mermaid be.'
That's all you ask.' His son laughed. 'Have you read this morning's paper?'
'You know I never read the papers. This is my world. I'm not interested in any other.'
'Well, to begin with, Pryce can't leave. The police are after him. There's a complete description — " He stopped then for he realised that the old man wasn't listening to him. He was staring at me — a look at once incredulous and fearful. Then suddenly his eyes were blank, giving no clue to his thoughts. 'I thought you said his name was O'Donnel,' he said to his son.
'Yes. But his real name's Pryce.'
'Jim Pryce,' I said.
The old man was trembling. He turned and stared at me. 'Pryce, did you say?'
'Yes,' I answered. And then I added slowly, 'Ruth Nearne was my mother.'
His eyes jerked wide and his whole body tensed. He was like a man under the impact of a bullet. 'No,' he said. 'No — no, it's impossible.' His eyes darted round the rock walls. Then he recovered himself. 'So you're Ruth Nearne's son. She was a fine woman — a fine woman.' He nodded in a fatherly way. 'She often spoke of you.'
The calmness of his. manner roused me. 'How would you know?' I snarled. 'She was alone. You took her away from my father and then you deserted her.' I went towards him. 'You killed her. You drove her to suicide.'