“Yes,” he answered sharply. “I will go. I will do what your bungling corporal has not been able to do. I will bring you proof of Dick Bracknell’s death. I will find that man who was in the wood, if there was a man—”
“There is no question of that,” she broke in. “I found his trail, and Corporal Bracknell found it too. I believe he followed it—”
“Ah!”
The expression on Rayner’s face, as the interjection broke from him, was one of mingled chagrin and fear. Joy noticed it, and it set her wondering again. Then quite suddenly she remembered something. Roger Bracknell had asked her if Adrian Rayner knew of her marriage with her cousin. She had answered that he did not, but he had known all the time! The significance of the question had not made itself felt at the time, but now it broke on her with startling force, and Rayner saw that something had happened to which he had no clue.
“What is it?” he asked sharply.
“Nothing!” she answered evasively. “But in view of all the circumstances I think I shall return to North Star myself before long.”
He was about to reply when there came an interruption. Miss La Farge entered the room.
“The car is waiting, Joy, and we are behind time. We really must be going if Mr. Rayner can excuse you.”
“Right, Babette. Cousin Adrian was just about to go, as we have finished our discussion, I believe.”