human
How are we to get across, Cyril?
gpt
Take this, dear, he said.
human
The jewels are in it. Be careful of them.
gpt
Oh, Cyril, said the girl, awestruck,
human
Yes, and in spite of what she says I believe she and Henry murdered your father--I mean Captain Huxham--for the sake of the jewels. They were in this bag, marked with the initials 'M. F.'--your father's initials.
gpt
Just as Granny saw it in her trance.
human
Very nearly, only she called the bag--and it is a bag, as you see--a portmanteau. Either Granny or the unseen are at fault. But it matters little since the jewels are now in your possession. Keep them carefully.
gpt
But Cyril, said Bella, as they drew near the cottage,
human
I daresay in ages past, many and many a wicked deed has been committed for the sake of these jewels. Do you remember what you heard Granny say in her trance?--that a Roman empress had secured the jewels by crime. My dear girl, all jewels have a history more or less, and if one feared the sort of thing you mention, not a woman would wear jewels. No, dear: God has given you this fortune, and you have every right to make use of it. Here's the door, and by the light in the window I see that Miss Ankers is sitting up.
gpt
I promised to tell her why I went out, said Bella, kissing her lover,
human
Just as you please: tell her everything from the beginning. I have to tell Inspector Inglis what I know shortly.
gpt
Will you tell him about your father?
human
I must, he said at length with a mighty effort,
gpt
Tell what?
human
I don't know: God only knows what happened when Luke peeped through that window. From the presence of the bloody knife on the floor, and the fact that Vand murdered Huxham, I am inclined to believe that Huxham stabbed my father with that knife.
gpt
If so where did Captain, Huxham hide the body?
human
We have had enough of these horrors for one night, dear, he said, kissing her.
gpt
Go inside and talk to Miss Ankers. To-morrow I'll come and see you.
human
What are you about to do, Cyril?
gpt
I am returning to the Manor-house, and then shall go to Granny's hut with Inglis. There must be an end to all this mystery to-night. Bella --he turned suddenly--
human
Why? In any case your father didn't murder Captain Huxham.
gpt
No; his hands are free from blood in that respect. But this case will have to be thoroughly inquired into, and much about my father may come out. His doings were shady. As I told you, I had to borrow one thousand pounds to buy back a cheque for that amount which he had forged in the name of an old college friend. Then there's the gun-running in Nigeria, and all manner of doubtful means by which he made his money. Bella, if you marry me, you marry a man with a soiled name.
human
she whispered,