THE VISIT TO WRESTE ABBEY
It was a little later when Deede Dawson returned to the subject of Wreste Abbey.
"Lord Chobham has a very valuable collection of plate and jewellery and so on, hasn't he?" he asked.
"Oh, there's plenty of the stuff there," Dunn answered."Why?""Oh, I was thinking a visit might be made fairly profitable," Deede Dawson said carelessly, for the first time definitely throwing off his mask of law-abiding citizen under which he lived at Bittermeads.
"It would be a risky job," answered Dunn, showing no surprise at the suggestion."The stuff's well guarded, and then, that's not what I'm thinking about - it's meeting Rupert Dunsmore, man to man, and no one to come between us.If that ever happens - "Deede Dawson nodded reassuringly.
"That'll be all right," he said."So you shall, I promise you that.
But we might as well kill two birds with one stone and clear a bit of profit, too.I've got to live, like any one else, and I haven't five thousand a year of my own, so I get my living out of those who have, and I don't see who has any right to blame me.Mind, if there was any money in chess, I should be a millionaire, but there isn't, and if a man can make a fortune on the Stock Exchange, which takes no more thought or skill than auction-bridge, why shouldn't I make a bit when I can? There's the 'D.D.' gambit I've invented, people will be studying and playing for centuries, but it'll never bring me a penny for all the brain-work I put into it, and so I've got to protect myself, haven't I?""It's what I do with less talk about it," answered Dunn contemptuously."Why, I've guessed all that from the first when you weren't so all-fired keen on seeing me in gaol, as most of your honest, hard-working lot, who only do their swindling in business-hours, would have been.And I've kept my eyes open, of course.It wasn't hard to twig you did a bit on the cross yourself.Well, that's your affair, but one thing I do want to know - how much does Miss Cayley know?"For all his efforts he could not keep his anxiety entirely out of his voice as he said this, and recognizing that thereby he had perhaps risked rousing some suspicion in the other's mind, he added:
"And her mother - the young lady and her mother, how much do they know?""Oh," answered Deede Dawson, with his false laugh and cold-watchful eyes."My wife knows nothing at all, but Ella's the best helper I've ever had.She looks so innocent, she can take in any one, and she never gives the show away, she acts all the time.A wonderful girl and useful - you'd hardly believe how useful."Dunn did not answer.It was only by a supreme effort that he kept his hands from Deede Dawson's throat.He did not believe a word of what the other said, for he knew well the utter falseness of the man.
None the less, the accusation troubled him and chilled him to the heart, as though with the touch of the finger of death.
"You remember that packing-case," Deede Dawson added."The one you helped me to get away from here the night you came.Well, she knew what was in it, though you would never have thought so, to look at her, would you?"His cold eyes were very intent and keen as he said this, and Dunn thought to himself that it had been said more to test any possible knowledge or suspicion of his own than for any other reason.With a manner of only slight interest, he answered carelessly:
"Did she? Why? Wasn't it your stuff? Had it been pinched? But she was safe enough, the police would never stop a smart young lady in a motor-car, except on very strong evidence.""Perhaps not," agreed Deede Dawson."That's one reason why Ella's so useful.But I've been thinking things out, and trying to make them work in together, and I think the first thing to do is for you to drive Allen and Ella over to Wreste Abbey this afternoon, so that they may have a good look around.""Oh, Miss Cayley and Allen," Dunn muttered.
