'Did he
say where Eustace was?'
'No; he said he had seen him; that was all'
'An obviously trumped-up story. He had heard of Eustace's escape
and he knew that any story connected with him would be a passport
into the house.'
Lady Wetherby turned to Claire.
'You haven't told us yet if you know the man. He was a big, tall,
broad gazook,' said Lady Wetherby. 'Very English'
'He faked the English,' said Dudley Pickering. 'That man was no
more an Englishman than I am.'
'Be patient with him, Claire,' urged Lady Wetherby. 'He's been
going to the movies too much, and thinks every man who has had his
trousers pressed is a social gangster. This man was the most
English thing I've ever seen--talked like this.'
She gave a passable reproduction of Bill's speech. Claire started.
'I don't know him!' she cried.
Her mind was in a whirl of agitation. Why had Bill come to the
house? What had he said? Had he told Dudley anything?
'I don't recognize the description,' she said, quickly. 'I don't
know anything about him.'
'There!' said Dudley Pickering, triumphantly.
'It's queer,' said Lady Wetherby. 'You're sure you don't know him,
Claire?'
'Absolutely sure.'
'He said he was living at a place near here, called Flack's.'
'I know the place,' said Dudley Pickering.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179