Miss Thornycroft shook her head. It was in truth so much involved in doubt and mystery from beginning to end, that she felt unable to cope with it, even by conjecture, she said faintly. "The terrible point in it all seems to be in his having come back again."
"Nay, the terrible point is the attack upon him," dissented her step-mother. "It might have been an accidental shot, after all. At what hour was it supposed to take place?"
Miss Thornycroft could not say. "Of course--yes--it might have been only accidental," she assented with whitening lips.
"Mary Ann, how ill you look!"
"Do I? It frightened me, you see. And I have a dreadful headache," she added, rising to escape those eyes bent on her with so much curiosity. "I must go and lie down on the bed, if you will spare me."
"Lie on my sofa," said Lady Ellis.
"No, thank you. Shut in by myself, I may get to sleep."
"Tell me one thing," and Lady Ellis laid her hand on her step-daughter's arm. "Is any one suspected?"
"No; oh no."
"I suppose, Mary Ann, it is quite sure that he is dead?"