I am so glad that you came, Mademoiselle, he said
to Ann, but you arelate.
And I was here to make sure youshould be spared
them. It may be only burning those letters in the hearth. Ann stepped through the
doorway and her fingers reached for theswitch.
Betty had bitten him like a wild animal caught in a
trap. What morelikely than that he should imagine Ann meant to run away and that
Bettywas helping her? Again Ann would not, I want nothing, she declared. But tonight
you shall lie just as youare. No, answered Hanaud with a shake of the
head.
So I will answer now one of thequestions in your
memorandum.
AnnUpcott had come to the end of her
strength.
Hanaud laughed and wagged his forefinger
contemptuously in her face. Crunch one of them between your teeth and -
fifteenminutes? Is thatexactly what you saw, Mademoiselle, on the night of the
twenty -seventh? For the moment let us content ourselves withthe facts, Hanaud
continued. Mademoiselle, I shall not trouble you with any explanations
tonight.
He crossed to the door leading into the hall, and
found it locked withthe key upon the inside.
Here was the real key and explanation of Bettys
hatred. Hanaud put theminto a pocket and went over to Ann Upcott. You have been
interfering with me too, havent you, Ann? She threw open thedoor with a nervous
violence.
There remain Espinosa and the young brother to
beaccounted for.
And the man who carried in the - the sack? I raise
my eyes from the floor and bychance I see in the mirror the barometer behind me.
Hanauds voice, from the far corner of the room, joined in. I am so glad that you
came, Mademoiselle, he said to Ann, but you arelate. Her voice broke and she
shuddered violently so that the divan shook onwhich she sat.
It was open and Hanaudstood upon the threshold.