“Oh, he slipped on the kerb-stone, or something like that.”
Westenhanger’s half-formulated idea broke down. It was quite evident that Eric had not got his injury in connection with the theft of the Talisman. It was not a case of his having been half-caught in the man-trap. Probably there was no man-trap at all. Rollo had denied its existence, and one could take Rollo’s word for things. At any rate, Westenhanger felt he had given every possibility a fair examination.
Mrs. Caistor Scorton came into the room, and Westenhanger glanced up as she entered. Freddie broke out at once.
“Heard the latest, Mrs. Caistor Scorton? The Talisman’s come back!”
Westenhanger had his eyes on Mrs. Caistor Scorton’s face as Freddie spoke; and he was amazed to see the effect of the words. Incredulity, stupefaction, and fear, swept in succession over her features almost in an instant. Then she regained command of herself, her thin lips tightened, and she walked to her place without showing any further sign of emotion. Only Westenhanger and Freddie seemed to have noticed anything abnormal, so quickly had she recovered her self-control. The other members of the party had not looked up as she came into the room.
“Now we’ve got something,” Westenhanger commented inwardly. “That shot took her absolutely off her guard. She knows something about the business—anyone can see that. She was absolutely taken aback by Freddie. She’ll want to know all about it, and then perhaps she’ll have to do something. If we can only keep an eye on her through to-day we may get to the bottom of the business at last.”
He dawdled through his breakfast, lending an ear to Freddie’s repetition of the tale of the Talisman’s return. Mrs. Caistor Scorton listened eagerly, he could see, and her breakfast remained almost untouched. Westenhanger learned nothing further. When Eileen rose from the table he accompanied her out of the room.
“You’re not doing anything important this morning, are you?” he questioned in a low voice, as soon as the door closed behind them.
“Nothing in particular.”
“I want you to put yourself in my hands, then. Don’t ask questions, please. I wish you to be an absolutely unbiassed witness, if anything turns up. But keep your eyes open. I want you to pay special attention to Mrs. Caistor Scorton to-day. It’s most important. Watch everything she does closely, and we’ll compare notes afterwards.”