Letters For A Spy by Alice Chetwynd Ley

Author:Alice Chetwynd Ley [Chetwynd Ley, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2016-07-18T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

AT CROWLE MANOR

‘It was easy to see,’ concluded Elizabeth, ‘that he didn’t believe one word of what I’d told him.’

‘I suppose one can hardly blame the gentleman,’ replied Margaret Ellis. ‘It is such a very odd story. I can scarcely credit it myself. But all the same, as he once knew you so intimately ‘

‘Oh, that is nothing to the purpose,’ put in Elizabeth, hurriedly. ‘People change with the years — it is a mistake to suppose they do not. No, what I find difficult to understand, Margaret, is what Mr. Farnham’s interest in this strange affair can possibly be.’

‘He did not enlighten you?’

Elizabeth shook her head. ‘He threw out a number of remarks which led me to suppose that he had some connection with the law, or the Customs authorities. But as to saying anything definite, no. Neither could I learn from him exactly what was in the mysterious packet. He insisted on behaving as if I knew very well what it contained, and could lead him to it, if I chose. He even,’ she finished, with a blush, ‘went so far as to search my baggage himself, when I could not find the letter.’

Miss Ellis exclaimed in horror. ‘My dear child, you should have called me to your aid! I would soon have sent him about his business!’

‘Yes, Margaret, but it did seem to be very much his business; and even though he would not explain himself, I feel very strongly that I ought not to hinder him. There is something of the utmost importance, I feel sure, behind all the odd incidents which have occurred since we left London.’ A worried frown settled on her brow. ‘And yet, suppose I have it all wrong? Suppose the pedlar and Mrs. Wood have a right to the packet, and Mr. Farnham is seeking to obtain illicit possession of it? I almost wish it had been left in our charge and then we could have delivered it to the person to whom it was directed. That, at any rate, could surely not have been the wrong thing to do!’

‘Well, for my part,’ said Miss Ellis, emphatically, ‘I am very glad to be rid of it, for now we can forget the whole disturbing business. And as the missing guide book has been returned to us, things are exactly as they were when we started out.’

Elizabeth sighed, and lapsed into silence, watching the gentle rise and fall of the Downs as their chaise travelled along the twisting road which led towards Crowle and the sea. She could not agree with her friend. Nothing could be quite the same again. Robert Farnham had been absent from her thoughts for many years but now she had met him once more, and in a manner that was likely to keep him in her mind for some time; for he was the centre of a mystery that would continue to intrigue her until she had succeeded in solving its riddle. And as it did

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