“He was stabbed, wasn’t he? I read the bare account of the inquest.”
“Yes, in the back, and there was no one in the room,” she glanced uneasily round the lounge, and listened to the breaking of the waves and the wash of the sea outside.
His anger rose against her brother for leaving her alone, and though he knew he had no right to presume on her invitation, he stayed on as long as he possibly could.
At last he rose.
“I must really go,” he said. “I will come round and put your set right, and perhaps I can see your brother then.”
“Thank you so much. It has been so good of you to keep me company,” and there was a wistful look in her eyes.
She came with him to the door, and as he opened it a blast of the storm struck them, making the lamp flare up. Halley reeled against the door-post with a quick gasp of pain.
“What is the matter?” she asked anxiously.
“Nothing, just a touch of giddiness, an old wound which troubles me sometimes.”
She watched him down the rough road, bending with the fierce gale, and came in with a sigh.