As he asked the question Joy Gargrave’s face grew very thoughtful.
“It was Dick’s man who fastened the door on us. That was part of a plan for kidnapping me, which Dick had arranged, and at first I thought that he——”
“It was not Joe. We found him shot,” interrupted the corporal.
“I do not think it was he now. At first Dick was inclined to that idea, and then he thought it might be my boy, Jim; but I pointed out that the latter would scarcely attack Babette, and she was attacked whilst walking outside the hut, you know.”
He looked at her and saw that her eyes were full of trouble. She was keeping something back, and after a moment he pressed her for the truth.
“You have suspicions, Miss Gargrave. Tell me exactly what you think.”
“I scarcely like to,” was the reply. “What I have is no more than a suspicion, and it is almost too horrible for words.”
“Tell me,” he urged again.
“I will,” she broke out impulsively, “and God forgive me if I do him wrong! I think my cousin Adrian was responsible—Mr. Rayner, you know, whom you met at North Star.”
“I thought so.”