A few seconds later he stepped
or reeled back, looking as frightened as a man could be, and
exclaiming--
"Dead as a stone, by God! Dead these three hours or more."
"Quite so," I answered, "but what killed him?"
"How should I know?" he asked savagely. "Do you suspect me of
poisoning him?"
"My mind is open," I replied; "but as you quarrelled so bitterly
last night, others might."
The bolt went home; he saw his danger.
"Probably the old sot died in a fit, or of too much brandy. How
can one know without a post-mortem? But that mustn't be made by
me. I'm off to inform the magistrate and get hold of another
doctor. Let the body remain as it is until I return."
I reflected quickly. Ought I to let him go or not? If he had
any hand in this business, doubtless he intended to escape.
Well, supposing this were so and he did escapee, that would be a
good thing for Heda, and really it was no affair of mine to bring
the fellow to justice. Moreover there was nothing to show that
he was guilty; his whole manner seemed to point another way,
though of course he might be acting.
"Very well," I replied, "but return as quickly as possible."
He stood for a few seconds like a man who is dazed. It occurred
to me that it might have come into his mind with Marnham's death
that he had lost his hold over Heda. But if so he said nothing
of it, but only asked--
"Will you go instead of me?"
"On the whole I think not," I replied, "and if I did, the story I
should have to tell might not tend to your advantage.
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