Reaching down she picked up a small stone and hurled it into the lily pond. As the ripples died away they both observed a convulsive movement of the water, a churning which had no relation to the missile thrown.
“I think,” said Penny evenly, “that you understand my meaning.”
CHAPTER
11
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Miss Kippenberg watched the concentric circles race each other to the far edge of the lily pool.
“Then you know the reason why this part of the estate is kept closed off?” she murmured, very low.
“I learned about the alligator yesterday,” said Penny. “Why is such an ugly brute kept here?”
“It was none of my doing, I assure you. I hate the horrid thing. Surely you don’t mean to suggest—”
“I am not suggesting anything yet,” said Penny quietly. “But you must realize that it is rather unusual to keep an alligator on one’s estate.”
“My father brought it here from Florida,” Miss Kippenberg revealed reluctantly. “For some reason the creature seemed to fascinate him. He insisted upon keeping it in the pond.”
“Your father is not living here now I am told.”