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Page 55
"I've got some decidedly uncomfortable ideas--which I'd much
rather not have--about Dr. Ransford," he said. "When one
thing seems to fit into another, what is one to think. If I
were certain that that rumour which spread, about Collishaw's
knowledge of something--you know, had got to Ransford's ears
--why, I should say it looked very much as if Ransford wanted
to stop Collishaw's tongue for good before it could say more
--and next time, perhaps, something definite. If men once
begin to hint that they know something, they don't stop at
hinting. Collishaw might have spoken plainly before long--to
us!"
Bryce asked a question about the holding of the inquest and
went away. And after thinking things over, he turned in the
direction of the Cathedral, and made his way through the
Cloisters to the Close. He was going to make another move in
his own game, while there was a good chance. Everything at
this juncture was throwing excellent cards into his hand--he
would be foolish, he thought, not to play them to advantage.
And so he made straight for Ransford's house, and before he
reached it, met Ransford and Mary Bewery, who were crossing
the Close from another point, on their way from the railway
station, whither Mary had gone especially to meet her
guardian. They were in such deep conversation that Bryce
was close upon them before they observed his presence. When
Ransford saw his late assistant, he scowled unconsciously
--Bryce, and the interview of the previous afternoon, had been
much in his thoughts all day, and he had an uneasy feeling
that Bryce was playing some game. Bryce was quick to see that
scowl--and to observe the sudden start which Mary could not
repress--and he was just as quick to speak.
"I was going to your house, Dr. Ransford," he remarked
quietly. "I don't want to force my presence on you, now or at
any time--but I think you'd better give me a few minutes."
They were at Ransford's garden gate by that time, and Ransford
flung it open and motioned Bryce to follow. He led the way
into the dining-room, closed the door on the three, and looked
at Bryce. Bryce took the glance as a question, and put
another, in words.
"You've heard of what's happened during the day?" he said.
"About Collishaw--yes," answered Ransford. "Miss Bewery has
just told me--what her brother told her. What of it?"
"I have just come from the police-station," said Bryce.
"Coates and Everest have carried out an autopsy this
afternoon. Mitchington told me the result."
"Well?" demanded Ransford, with no attempt to conceal his
impatience. "And what then?"
"Collishaw was poisoned," replied Bryce, watching Ransford
with a closeness which Mary did not fail to observe. "H.C.N.
No doubt at all about it."
"Well--and what then?" asked Ransford, still more impatiently.
"To be explicit--what's all this to do with me?"
"I came here to do you a service," answered Bryce. "Whether
you like to take it or not is your look-out. You may as well
know it you're in danger. Collishaw is the man who hinted--as
you heard yesterday in my rooms--that he could say something
definite about the Braden affair--if he liked."
"Well?" said Ransford.
"It's known--to the police--that you were at Collishaw's house
early this morning," said Bryce. "Mitchington knows it."
Ransford laughed.
"Does Mitchington know that I overheard what he said to you,
yesterday afternoon?" he inquired.
"No, he doesn't," answered Bryce. "He couldn't possibly know
unless I told him. I haven't told him--I'm not going to tell
him. But--he's suspicious already."
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