"About what?"
"I don't want to be, if I may say so, dragged into this business."
"What business?"
"Of the body they've found in Cooper's Spinney."
"Day, what are you talking about? What possible connection can that have with you?"
"Miss Arnott, I understand that Dr Radcliffe says that that man has been lying dead under that beech tree for at least four or five days. That takes us back to Saturday, the day that you came home. In these sort of things you never know what the police may take it into their heads to do. I do not want to run the risk of being called as a witness at the inquest or--anywhere else, and--asked questions about last Saturday."
Then the man looked his mistress straight in the face, and she understood--or thought she did.
"What you have said, Day, settles the question. Under no circumstances will I permit you to leave my service--or this house--until the matter to which you refer has been finally settled. So resolved am I upon that point that, if I have any further reason to suspect you of any intention of doing so, I shall myself communicate with the police at once. Understand that clearly."