Audrey sat very upright and stared at him.
'You hate him,' she said slowly. 'You hate him very much, don't you?'
He avoided her eyes, turning away to cup a match in his hands as he relit the pipe that had gone out.
'Wouldn't be surprising if I did, would it?' he said indistinctly. 'He's got everything that I haven't. He can play games, and swim, and dance, and talk. And I'm a tongue-tied oaf with a crippled arm. He's always been brilliant and successful and I've always been a dull dog. And he married the only girl I ever cared for.'
She made a faint sound. He said savagely: 'You've always known that, haven't you? You knew I cared about you ever since you were fifteen. You know that I still care — '
She stopped him.
'No. Not now.'
'What do you mean — not now?'
Audrey got up. She said in a quiet, reflective voice: 'Because — now — I am different.'
'Different in what way?'
He got up too, and stood facing her.
Audrey said in a quick, rather breathless voice: 'If you don't know, I can't tell you … I'm not always sure myself. I only know — '
She broke off, and turning abruptly away she walked quickly back over the rocks towards the hotel.
Turning a corner of the cliff she came across Nevile. He was lying full length peering into a rock pool. He looked up and grinned.
'Hullo, Audrey.'
'Hullo, Nevile.'
'I'm watching a crab. Awfully active little beggar. Look, there he is.'
She knelt down and stared where he pointed.
'See him?'
'Yes.'
'Have a cigarette?'
She accepted one and he lit it for her. After a moment or two, during which she did not look at him, he said nervously: 'I say, Audrey?'
'Yes?'
'It's all right, isn't it? I mean — between us.'
'Yes. Yes, of course.'
'I mean — we're friends and all that?'
'Oh, yes — yes, of course.'
'I do want us to be friends.'
He looked at her anxiously. She gave him a nervous smile.
He said conversationally: 'It's been a jolly day, hasn't it? Weather good and all that?'
'Oh, yes — yes.'
'Quite hot really for September.'
There was a pause.
'Audrey — '
She got up.
'Your wife wants you; she's waving to you.'
'Who — oh, Kay.'
'I said your wife.'
He scrambled to his feet and stood looking at her.
He said in a very low voice: 'You're my wife, Audrey …'
She turned away. Nevile ran down on to the beach and across the sand to join Kay.
IX
On their arrival at Gull's Point, Hurstall came out into the hall and spoke to Mary.
'Would you go up at once to her ladyship, Miss? She is feeling very upset and wanted to see you as soon as you got in.'
Mary hurried up the stairs. She found Lady Tressilian looking white and shaken.
'Dear Mary, I'm so glad you have come. I am feeling most distressed. Poor Mr. Treves is dead.'
'Dead?'
'Yes, isn't it terrible? So sudden. Apparently he didn't even get undressed last night. He must have collapsed as soon as he got home.'
'Oh, dear, I am sorry.'
'One knows, of course, that he was delicate. A weak heart. I hope nothing happened while he was here to overstrain it? There was nothing indigestible for dinner?'
'I don't think so — no, I am sure there wasn't. He seemed quite well and in good spirits.'
'I am really very distressed. I wish, Mary, that you would go to the Balmoral Court and make a few inquiries of Mrs. Rogers. Ask her if there is anything we can do. And then the funeral. For Matthew's sake I would like to do anything we could. These things are so awkward at a hotel.'
Mary spoke firmly.
'Dear Camilla, you really must not worry. This has been a shock to you.'
'Indeed it has.'
'I will go to the Balmoral Court at once and then come back and tell you all about things.'
'Thank you, Mary dear; you are always so practical and understanding.'
'Please try and rest now. A shock of this kind is so bad for you.'
Mary Aldin left the room and came downstairs. Entering the drawing-room she exclaimed: 'Old Mr. Treves is dead. He died last night after returning home.'
'Poor old boy,' exclaimed Nevile. 'What was it?'
'Heart, apparently. He collapsed as soon as he got in.'
Thomas Royde said thoughtfully: 'I wonder if the stairs did him in?'
'Stairs?' Mary looked at him inquiringly.
'Yes. When Latimer and I left him he was just starting up. We told him to take it slow.'
Mary exclaimed: 'But how very foolish of him not to take the lift.'
'The lift was out of order.'
'Oh, I see. How very unfortunate! Poor old man.'
She added: 'I am going round there now. Camilla wants to know if there is anything we can do.'
Thomas said: 'I'll come with you.'
They walked together down the road and round the corner to the Balmoral Court .
Mary remarked : 'I wonder if he has any relatives who ought to be notified?'
'He didn't mention anyone.'
'No, and people usually do. They say 'my niece' or 'my cousin.''
'Was he married?'
'I believe not.'
They entered the open door of the Balmoral Court .
Mrs. Rogers, the proprietress, was talking to a tall middle-aged man, who raised a friendly hand in greeting to Mary.
'Good afternoon. Miss Aldin.'
'Good afternoon, Dr. Lazenby. This is Mr. Royde. We came round with a message from Lady Tressilian to know if there is anything we can do.'
'That's very kind of you, Miss Aldin,' said the hotel proprietress. 'Come into my room, won't you?'
They all went into the small comfortable sitting-room and Dr. Lazenby said: 'Mr. Treves was dining at your
