“Don’t ask me to tell you any more,” she whispered. “The cottage is a place of evil omen. Truly, I did you a favor in warning you away.”
“I saw a painting on the door—that of a winged or plumed serpent. Will you explain its significance?”
“I only know that my stepfather had it painted there when the cottage was built soon after his marriage to my mother. It is a symbol of one of the ancient cults he studied. Many of his trophies bear the same picture.”
The information was a little disappointing to Penny. “Then I suppose the drawing that the police found in Mr. Rhett’s office had no great significance,” she remarked.
“Drawing?”
Penny described the serpent picture which had been found, adding: “On the sheet were written the words: ‘This shall be the end.’”
“You are certain?”
“Oh, yes, I saw the paper myself.”
Lorinda was visibly disturbed. “I must see that writing! It may mean—” she broke off and amended: “Tell me, where is the paper now?”
“The police have it.”