"If I had waited—and the rescuers had not come, it is possible death would have been a merciful alternative to Miss Ryder's fate," he said. "I have tried to explain that what I did was done—as Miss Ryder would be the first to admit—for the best. But I see you are determined to look upon me as a criminal; and as I don't intend to excuse myself further, well, I will echo your hope that we may never meet again."
And without any further attempt at farewell Anstice turned on his heel and walked out of the room; leaving Bruce Cheniston staring after him with an expression of amazement not untinged with shame in his narrow blue eyes.
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
"If you please, sir, a telephone message has come for you from Cherry Orchard just now."
Anstice put down the paper he had been idly studying and looked at the maid.
"Cherry Orchard? That's the big house on the Littlefield Road, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir. It has just been reopened, cook tells me."