“Arrested! My husband arrested! What for? Oh, for God’s sake tell me quickly!”
“Yes, Barbara, I will—that is, I will try. I know it is an awful shock for you, poor girl! But, Barbara, your husband, Dick, has been arrested on suspicion of having——”
“Yes, yes, on suspicion of what?”
“Of having murdered my little Piers!”
“Oh, Mrs. Pelham, what utter nonsense!” said Barbara. The accusation was so monstrous, so unfounded, that her first feeling was one of relief. She even gave a strange and hollow laugh.
“What nonsense!” she repeated. “Dick accused of murdering Piers! Dick, who loved him! Mrs. Pelham, has anybody gone mad?”
“My poor child, I don’t wonder at your taking it like this. I felt somewhat as you do at the first moment, but it is all too, too true. I thought, of course, you must know by this time.”
“Tell me more—tell me quickly. Where is Dick now?”
“He was examined before the magistrate this morning, Barbara. I was there—I had to be present. He is remanded until—until——”
“I do not understand,” said Barbara. “It is so ridiculous. I know you are trying to tell me the most awful thing in the world, but it is so utterly false that I cannot feel it.”