"Are you sure about that?" I demanded
He nodded a little scornfully. "Dead certain, guv'nor. There ain't
no one else you'd mistake for 'er--not round these parts."
"But how do you know she was waiting to go on the barge?" I persisted.
"Why, I 'eard 'er call out, and I seed the doctor comin' orf to fetch
'er. I reckon she's there now--that's to say, if 'e ain't put 'er
ashore again."
I said nothing further, but walked on to the boat in anything but a
happy state of mind. The thought of Christine boxed up alone in the
fog with those two scoundrels filled me with a horrible sense of
uneasiness. Knowing her mistrust for Manning, and having seen
something of the relations between them, I felt that only the
strongest reasons would have induced her to take such a step.
It was possible, of course, that she had explained her action in the
letter which she had given to Jimmy. If that were the case, the
quicker I got back to the house the sooner my anxiety would be
relieved, so without wasting any time I unshipped the oars and
started off on my journey down the creek.
The tide was slack when we reached the mouth; and trusting to luck,
for one could see only a few feet ahead, I cut straight across the
estuary, and came out triumphantly almost exactly alongside the
landing-stage.
Before stepping ashore I handed Jimmy a well-earned ten bob in return
for his services. Then, with my bag in my hand, I strode forward
through the mist and entered the narrow path which ran up through the
shrubbery to the garden.
As I crossed the lawn and approached the house I noticed with some
surprise that the front door was standing open. I was just thinking
that it was rather unlike Bascomb to be so casual when I suddenly
heard the sound of footsteps coming round the corner of the drive. I
pulled up where I was, and the next moment the square, burly figure
of my retainer loomed into view.
I was about to make some remark, but, whatever it was, the words
remained unspoken. One glance at Bascomb's face was quite sufficient
to drive everything else clean out of my head.
"Good God!" I exclaimed. "What's the matter?"
He stood there, glaring at me with sullen, blood-shot eyes--a silent
and menacing figure in the mist. Then, taking a step forward, he laid
his hand on my arm.
"You come along o' me," he said hoarsely. "I got something to show
you."
Turning on his heel, he led the way round the corner of the house.
Without saying anything further I followed him along the path until
we reached the back garden, where with equal abruptness he came to a
sudden standstill. Then, raising his hand, he pointed towards a dim,
motionless heap, which was just visible in the centre of the lawn.
"There you are," he muttered. "You go an' look at that."
Two strides brought me to the spot, and a wicked oath broke from my
lips as I stared down at the sight in front of me. It was the huge
body of Satan, stretched out stiff and dead on the wet grass.