Hetty rose totteringly and approached the door. Awdrey took the key from his pocket, and unlocked it for her. As he did so he asked her a question.
"You saw everything? You saw the deed done?"
"Yes, sir, I saw the stick in your hand, and——"
"That is the point I am coming to," said the Squire. "What did I do with the stick?"
"You pushed it into the midst of some underwood, sir, about twenty feet from the spot where——" She could not finish her sentence.
"Yes," said Awdrey slowly. "I remember that. Has the stick ever been found?"
"No, Mr. Robert, that couldn't be."
"Why do you say that? The underwood may be cut down at any moment. The stick has my name on it. It may come to light."
"It can't, sir—'tain't there. Aunt Fanny and me, we thought o' that, and we went the night after the murder, and took the stick out from where you had put it, and weighted it with stones, and threw it into the deep pond close by. You need not fear that, Mr. Robert."
Awdrey did not answer. His eyes narrowed to a line of satisfaction, and a cunning expression came into them, altogether foreign to his face.