[Chapter XIII]
Two Women
The surprising information given by the stationmaster impressed the barrister as so much unexpected trover which would assert its value in the progress of events. He certainly did not anticipate the discovery of three David Humes, though he had hoped to find traces of two.
Before he reached his hotel he experienced a spasm of doubt. Was his client telling the truth about his movements on that memorable Christmas Eve? David’s story was fully corroborated by the railway official and the servants at the Hall, whose sworn evidence was in Brett’s possession. But how about Hume’s counterfeit presentments arriving by the earlier trains—coming from where and bound on what errands?
He resolutely closed down the trap-door opened by his imagination.
“The pit does not yawn for me,” he communed, “but for the man who killed Sir Alan. Assuredly he will fall into it before many days. Nothing on earth can stop the meeting of two or more of the hidden channels now being opened up, and when they do meet there must be a dramatic outcome.”
His chief purpose in revisiting Stowmarket was to seek further confidences from Mrs. Capella. He argued that the sudden journey of her husband to Naples would cause her much uneasiness, and she might now be inclined to reveal circumstances yet hidden.
He refused to take her at a disadvantage. From the hotel he sent a cyclist messenger with a note asking for an interview, and within an hour he received a cordial request to come at once.
Nevertheless, he was not a little astonished to find Helen Layton awaiting him in Margaret’s boudoir.