Over the far fire-place, set in the circle of lanceheads, its clear blade dazzling in the sun and gleaming as brightly as if it had never left its plaque, sinister and beautiful, was the Black Dudley Dagger.
CHAPTER IX
Chris Kennedy Scores a Try Only
As soon as Abbershaw had recovered from his first surprise, he turned to Meggie. She was standing just beside him, the others having split up into little groups talking quietly together. ‘Did you come in here this morning,’ he said, ‘after we came in from the garden?’
She nodded, and he saw that she was trembling slightly. ‘Yes,’ she whispered, ‘and – and it was here then, hanging just where it is now. I – I couldn’t help coming in to see. Someone must have put it back – in the night.’
Her voice died away in a sob on the last word, and he laid a hand on her arm.
‘Scared?’ he said.
She met his eyes bravely.
‘I’m glad you’re here too,’ she said simply.
A wave of pleasure swept over Abbershaw, and he coloured, but he did not speak. The gravity of the situation was by no means lost to him. He was the eldest of the party, and, moreover, he knew more about the events of the last twelve hours than probably anyone else in the room.
Something told him to keep quiet about his discoveries, however; he realized that they were up against dangerous men. Mr Benjamin Dawlish, as he styled himself, was no ordinary individual, and, at the moment, he was angry.