There was a pleading note in this question—a longing to hear the answer "No" that seemed to affect Ned strangely.
"It's all right, Miss Farmond!" he said. "Don't you worry! I got that man down here to clear you—just for that purpose and no other!"
"But——" she exclaimed, "Mr. Rattar said you suspected Malcolm and me and were determined to prove our guilt!"
"Simon Rattar said that!"
There was something so menacing in his voice that Cicely involuntarily shrank back.
"Do you mean to tell me, honour bright, that Simon Rattar told you that lie in so many words?"
"Yes," she said, "he did indeed. And he said that this Mr. Carrington was a very clever man and was almost certain to trump up a very strong case against us, and so he advised me to go away."
He seemed almost incapable of speech at this.
"He actually advised you to bolt?"