“D’you mean she went to the Thatched House?”
Dr. Maclean could not keep the dismay out of his voice. He knew that the police were still in charge of Harry Garlett’s dwelling-place.
“She went to the churchyard. Elsie found her close to poor Mrs. Garlett’s grave. She was kneeling there, on the bare, wet ground, and when Elsie came up close behind her she heard her say: ‘Don’t be angry with Harry, Mrs. Garlett. He hardly knew I existed while you were alive. But I’ll give him up—I will, indeed, if you’ll help to save him?’ The poor girl screamed when Elsie spoke to her. But she got up off the cold earth, and came back with Elsie. She’s sitting in the dining room now, but she looks very strange, and when I spoke to her just now she didn’t seem to hear.”
The doctor looked alarmed. “She’s got it in her head that she may have said something to the man who took her statement that will injure Garlett. She let out as much to me yesterday. I did my best to reassure her, but I found it damned difficult to do so, beyond saying that if the man’s innocent nothing she said could affect the issue.”
“I wish I could think that,” said his wife significantly, “I used to believe that an innocent man was never found guilty, but I don’t know that I think so now, Jock.”
“Does that mean,” asked the doctor quickly, “that you now think Garlett is innocent?”
“I am more inclined to think him so than you are. For one thing, Mr. Kentworthy’s belief in him has impressed me very much.”
“Has Jean said anything to you about her talk with Kentworthy?”
“No,” said Mrs. Maclean; “in a way, she’s been quite mysterious about it, but I’m afraid she was terribly disappointed.”
“I suppose she’s sleeping badly?”