I believe the man was honest when
he told me that for hours he had hesitated whether to send me those
few lines or not. Eventually he decided to do so, but he appealed
to my honour to destroy the note as soon as I had read it."
"Well!"
"He thought it his duty to let me know that there had been rumours
as to how your father met his death. Trent, it seems, had the
reputation of being a reckless and daring man, and, according to
some agreement which they had, he profited enormously by your
father's death. There seems to have been no really definite ground
for the rumour except that the body was not found where Trent said
that he had died. Apart from that, life is held cheap out there,
and although your father was in delicate health, his death under
such conditions could not fail to be suspicious. I hope I haven't
said too much. I've tried to put it to you exactly as it was put to me!"
"Thank you," Ernestine said, "I think I understand."
CHAPTER XVIII
Dinner at the Lodge that night was not a very lively affair. Trent
had great matters in his brain and was not in the least disposed to
make conversation for the sake of his unbidden guests. Da Souza's
few remarks he treated with silent contempt, and Mrs. Da Souza he
answered only in monosyllables.
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