Arthur’s temper boiled up at the words. Wendover, glancing at his face, saw the features contorted in hardly-restrained fury. With an effort, the boy fought down his anger until he could speak.
“If anything happens to Sylvia I’ll get the brute yet; and then he’ll wish he’d never been born. That’s that!”
He swung round on his heel and left the room.
Sir Clinton sighed slightly as the door closed.
“Oh, Lord!” he exclaimed softly, as if to himself. “I hadn’t reckoned on that. This is growing devilishly complicated.”
Wendover had pricked up his ears.
“What’s the trouble now?”
Sir Clinton seemed to realise that he had spoken his thoughts aloud.
“It’s another factor that I hadn’t allowed for,” he admitted. But he refused to divulge anything further; and Wendover had to content himself with the cryptic phrase.
Stenness did not keep them waiting long. When he came into the study, Wendover was surprised to see the change which the night seemed to have made in the secretary’s appearance. He was heavy-eyed; and his features had a drawn expression as though he had passed through some great strain.