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Page 28
"You mean you'd give yourself a bit of a run for your money?"
"Yes, that's what I mean. If you were going to do it
deliberately, that is to say and lock yourself in before you
began."
Cayley had been silent, apparently thinking over this new idea.
With his eyes still on the ground, he said now: "I hold to my
opinion that it was purely accidental, and that Mark lost his
head and ran away."
"But what about the key?" asked Bill.
"We don't know yet that the keys were outside. I don't at all
agree with Mr. Gillingham that the keys of the down-stairs rooms
are always outside the doors. Sometimes they are, no doubt; but
I think we shall probably find that these are inside."
"Oh, well, of course, if they are inside, then your original
theory is probably the correct one. Having often seen them
outside, I just wondered that's all. You asked me to be quite
frank, you know, and tell you what I thought. But no doubt
you're right, and we shall find them inside, as you say.
"Even if the key was outside," went on Cayley stubbornly, "I
still think it might have been accidental. He might have taken
it in with him, knowing that the interview would be an unpleasant
one, and not wishing to be interrupted."
"But he had just told you to stand by in case he wanted you; so
why should he lock you out? Besides, I should think that if a
man were going to have an unpleasant interview with a threatening
relation, the last thing he would do would be to barricade
himself in with him. He would want to open all the doors and
say, 'Get out of it'"
Cayley was silent, but his mouth looked obstinate. Antony gave a
little apologetic laugh and stood up.
"Well, come on, Bill," he said; "we ought to be stepping." He
held out a hand and pulled his friend up. Then, turning to
Cayley, he went on, "You must forgive me if I have let my
thoughts run on rather. Of course, I was considering the matter
purely as an outsider; just as a problem, I mean, which didn't
concern the happiness of any of my friends."
"That's all right, Mr. Gillingham," said Cayley, standing up too.
"It is for you to make allowances for me. I'm sure you will.
You say that you're going up to the inn now about your bag?"
"Yes." He looked up at the sun and then round the parkland
stretching about the house. "Let me see; it's over in that
direction, isn't it?" He pointed southwards. "Can we get to the
village that way, or must we go by the road?"
"I'll show you, my boy," said Bill.
"Bill will show you. The park reaches almost as far as the
village. Then I'll send the car round in about half an hour."
"Thanks very much."
Cayley nodded and turned to go into the house. Antony took hold
of Bill's arm and walked off with him in the opposite direction.
CHAPTER VII
Portrait of a Gentleman
They walked in silence for a little, until they had left the
house and gardens well behind them. In front of them and to the
right the park dipped and then rose slowly, shutting out the rest
of the world. A thick belt of trees on the left divided them
from the main road.
"Ever been here before?" said Antony suddenly.
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