"It is most extraordinary!" ejaculated Robert Melray. "But do you mean to imply that Evan Wildash never came back from Africa?"
"Never, to my knowledge. He was reported to have died there, and, for anything known by me to the contrary the report was true."
"Then, as regards the man who was killed in the railway accident?"
"I know no more about him than about the man in the moon."
Robert Melray sat back in his chair like a man bereft of speech.
[CHAPTER XXI.]
THE TRUTH AT LAST.
Some minutes later Robert Melray opened the door which led to the outer office, and said to his head clerk, "Mr. Cray, will you be good enough to ask Mr. Dyson to step this way?"
When Richard Dyson entered the private office he had no prevision that he was wanted about anything more important than some ordinary business detail. Long immunity from suspicion had bred in him the belief that his dark secret was buried out of sight for ever. He glanced round as he entered. He had not the remotest suspicion that the high screen in the corner hid Denia from his view.
"Sit there," said Robert, pointing to the chair vacated by Denia a minute before. There was something in his tone which caused Dyson to glance keenly at him, something which warned him to be on his guard. The two had not met since the latter's return from his leave of absence.