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Page 70
Antony was thinking of Miss Norbury's feelings as a daughter, and
wondering if she guessed that her affairs were now being
discussed with a stranger. Yet what could he do? What, indeed,
did he want to do except listen, in the hope of learning? Mark
engaged, or about to be engaged! Had that any bearing on the
events of yesterday? What, for instance, would Mrs. Norbury have
thought of brother Robert, that family skeleton? Was this
another reason for wanting brother Robert out of the way?
"I never liked him, never!"
"Never liked?" said Antony, bewildered.
"That cousin of his Mr. Cayley."
"Oh!"
"I ask you, Mr. Gillingham, am I the sort of woman to trust my
little girl to a man who would go about shooting his only
brother?"
"I'm sure you wouldn't, Mrs. Norbury."
"If there has been any shooting done, it has been done by
somebody else."
Antony looked at her inquiringly.
"I never liked him," said Mrs. Norbury firmly. "Never."
However, thought Antony to himself, that didn't quite prove that
Cayley was a murderer.
"How did Miss Norbury get on with him?" he asked cautiously.
"There was nothing in that at all," said Miss Norbury's mother
emphatically. "Nothing. I would say so to anybody."
"Oh, I beg your pardon. I never meant--"
"Nothing. I can say that for dear Angela with perfect
confidence. Whether he made advances--" She broke off with a
shrug of her plump shoulders.
Antony waited eagerly.
"Naturally they met. Possibly he might have--I don't know. But
my duty as a mother was clear, Mr. Gillingham."
Mr. Gillingham made an encouraging noise.
"I told him quite frankly that--how shall I put it?--that he was
trespassing. Tactfully, of course. But frankly."
"You mean," said Antony, trying to speak calmly, "that you told
him that--er--Mr. Ablett and your daughter--?"
Mrs. Norbury nodded several times.
"Exactly, Mr. Gillingham. I had my duty as a mother."
"I am sure, Mrs. Norbury, that nothing would keep you from doing
your duty. But it must have been disagreeable. Particularly if
you weren't quite sure--"
"He was attracted, Mr. Gillingham. Obviously attracted."
"Who would not be?" said Antony, with a charming smile. "It must
have been something of a shock to him to--"
"It was just that which made me so glad that I had spoken. I saw
at once that I had not spoken a moment too soon."
"There must have been a certain awkwardness about the next
meeting," suggested Antony.
"Naturally, he has not been here since. No doubt they would have
been bound to meet up at the Red House sooner or later."
"Oh,--this was only quite lately?"
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