"Yes."
He intended to wait for a lead before showing his hand. "Then you know all about it?" he asked carelessly.
Their eyes were on each other, keen and watchful. She knew he was concealing something of importance. He had meant not to tell her that Bromfield had been with him. Why? To protect the man to whom she was engaged. She jumped to the conclusion that he was still shielding him.
"Yes, you're a poor liar, Clay," she agreed. "You stayed to keep back
Collins so as to give Clarendon a chance to escape."
"Did I?"
"Can you deny it? Clarendon heard the shots as he was running downstairs."
"He told you that, did he?"
"Yes."
"That ought to help a lot. If I can prove Collins was shootin' at me I can plead self-defense."
"That's what it was, of course."