‘Remember, too, I am no party to this proceeding of yours. I warned you against it. Whatever happens you will have brought on yourself.’
‘Very good. I am perfectly ready to accept the responsibility of my own actions.’
‘And I say—see here, Brownlow. You won’t tell Hartover I gave you his address.’
‘Of course not, if you desire it. I can decline to say where I learnt it.’
‘He’ll find out, though, through the other officers,’ he muttered, as we crossed the hall and he saw me into the still waiting coach. ‘It’s an accursed business, and we shall come ill out of it. I know we shall; but a woman must have her way.’
‘For Heaven’s sake,’ I cried, ‘remember you are not alone.’
He looked fiercely at me, as one who should say, ‘What have I betrayed?’ Then added with a sneer:
‘Brownlow, I wish to God we’d never seen you. You’re a devilish deal too honest a fellow to have got among us.’
With which cryptic words he went back into the great house, leaving me to drive down to Chelsea, and to my thoughts. What they were I hardly knew myself. Sufficient that I was most miserable and full of questioning dread.