The new terror to Bruce was Mr. White.
“Why, if that animated truncheon knew what I know of this business he would arrest Mensmore forthwith. If he did, what would result? A scandal, a thorough exposure, possibly the ruin of Mensmore’s love-making if he be an innocent man. That must be stopped. But how, without forewarning Mensmore himself?—and he may be guilty. Chance may favor White, as it favored me, in disclosing the identity of the missing Corbett. And what of the real Corbett? What on earth has he got to do with it, and why has Mensmore taken his name? If ever I get to the bottom of this business I may well congratulate myself. The sole result of all my labor thus far may be summed up in a sentence—I have not yet come face to face with the man whom I can honestly suspect as Lady Dyke’s murderer. Not much, my boy!”
Claude uttered the last sentence aloud, startling Smith, who was clearing the table.
“Beg pardon, sir,” cried Smith.
“Oh, nothing. I was only expressing an opinion.”
“I thought, perhaps, sir, you was thinkin’ of Mr. White.”
“What of him?”
“Your remark, sir, hexactly hexpresses my hopinion of ’im.”
Smith was not a badly educated man, but the least excitement produced an appalling derangement of the letter “h” in his vocabulary.
“Mr. White is a sharp fellow in his own way, Smith.”