There is an impression abroad that I was interested in
the two young men, Victor Bidlake and Fairfax, and that I knew
something of their quarrel. You were an intimate friend of young
Bidlake's and presumably in his confidence. It occurs to me,
therefore, that Mr. Shopland might very well have visited you in
search of information, linking me up with that unfortunate
affair. Hence your little note to me."
Miss Hyslop rose to her feet. She had the appearance of being
very angry indeed.
"Do you mean to insinuate--" she began.
"Madam, I insinuate nothing," Sir Timothy interrupted sternly.
"I only desire to suggest this. You are a young lady whose
manner of living, I gather, is to a certain extent precarious.
It must have seemed to you a likelier source of profit to
withhold any information you might have to give at the
solicitation of a rich man, than to give it free gratis and for
nothing to a detective. Now am I right?"
Miss Hyslop turned towards the door. She had the air of a person
who had been entirely misunderstood.
"I wrote you out of kindness, Sir Timothy," she said in an
aggrieved manner. "I shall have nothing more to say on the
matter--to you, at any rate."
Sir Timothy sighed.
"You see," he said, turning to the others, "I have lost my chance
of conciliating a witness.
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