quite casually, but I believe she hoped I'd act upon it.'
'She knew, then, all along?'
'She had a very strong suspicion. I think she was handicapped by having once been in love with him.'
Bridget nodded. 'Yes, that accounts for several things. Gordon told me they had once been engaged.'
'She wanted, you see, not to believe it was him. But she became more and more sure that it was. She tried to give me hints, but she couldn't bear to do anything outright against him. Women are odd creatures. I think, in a way she still cares about him.'
'Even after he jilted her?'
'She jilted him. It was rather an ugly story. I'll tell you.' He recounted the short, violent episode.
Bridget stared at him. 'Gordon did that?'
'Yes. Even in those days, you see, he can't have been normal.'
Bridget shivered and murmured, 'All those years ago — all those years –'
Luke said, 'He may have got rid of a lot more people than we shall ever know about. It's just the rapid succession of deaths lately that drew attention to him. As though he'd got reckless with success.'
Bridget nodded. She was silent for a minute or two, thinking, then she said abruptly, 'What exactly did Miss Fullerton say to you in the train that day? How did she begin?'
Luke cast his mind back. 'Told me she was going to Scotland Yard, mentioned the village constable; said he was a nice fellow, but not up to dealing with murder.'
'That was the first mention of the word?'
'Yes.'
'Go on.'
'Then she said, 'You're surprised, I can see. I was myself at first. I really couldn't believe it. I thought I must be imagining things.''
'And then?'
'I asked her if she was sure she wasn't — imagining things, I mean — and she said, quite placidly, 'Oh, no. It might have been the first time, but not the second, or the third, or the fourth. After that, one knows.''
'Marvelous,' commented Bridget. 'Go on.'
'So of course I humored her; said I was sure she was doing the right thing. I was an unbelieving Thomas if there ever was one.'
'I know. So easy to be wise after the event. I'd have felt just the same — nice and superior to the poor old dame. How did the conversation go on?'
'Let me see. Oh, she mentioned the Abercrombie case — you know, the Welsh poisoner. Said she hadn't really believed that there had been a look — a special look — that he gave his victims. But that she believed it now, because she had seen it herself.'
'What words did she use exactly?'
Luke thought, creasing his brow. 'She said, still in that nice ladylike voice: 'Of course, I didn't really believe that when I read about it, but it's true.' And I said, 'What's true?' And she said, 'The look on a person's face.' And, by Jove, Bridget, the way she said that, absolutely got me! Her quiet voice and the look on her face — like someone who had really seen something almost too horrible to speak about!'
'Go on, Luke. Tell me everything.'
'And then she enumerated the victims — Amy Gibbs and Carter and Tommy Pierce, and said that Tommy was a horrid boy and Carter drank. And then she said, 'But now — yesterday — it was Doctor Humbleby — and he's such a good man — a really good man.' And she said if she went to Humbleby and told him, he wouldn't believe her; he'd only laugh!'
Bridget gave a deep sigh. 'I see,' she said. 'I see.'
Luke looked at her. 'What is it, Bridget? What are you thinking of?'
'Something Mrs. Humbleby once said. I wondered — No, never mind, go on. What was it she said to you right at the end?'
Luke repeated the words soberly. They had made an impression on him and he was not likely to forget them. 'I'd said it was difficult to get away with a lot of murders, and she answered, 'No, no, my dear boy, that's where you're wrong. It's very easy to kill, so long as no one suspects you. And, you see, the person in question is just the last person anyone would suspect.'' He was silent.
Bridget said, with a shiver, 'Easy to kill? Horribly easy — that's true enough! No wonder those words stuck in your mind, Luke. They'll stick in mine — all my life! A man like Gordon Easterfield — Oh, of course it's easy!'
'It's not so easy to bring it home to him,' said Luke.
'Don't you think so? I've an idea I can help there.'
'Bridget, I forbid you –'
'You can't. One can't just sit back and play safe. I'm in this, Luke. It may be dangerous — yes, I'll admit that — but I've got to play my part.'
'Bridget –'
'I'm in this, Luke! I shall accept Miss Waynflete's invitation and stay down here.'
'My darling, I implore you –'
'It's dangerous for both of us. I know that. But we're in it, Luke — we're in it together!'
Chapter 22
The calm interior of Miss Waynflete's house was almost an anticlimax after that tense moment in the car. Miss Waynflete received Bridget's acceptance of her invitation a little doubtfully; hastening, however, to reiterate her offer of hospitality by way of showing that her doubts were due to quite another cause than unwillingness to receive the girl.
Luke said, 'I really think it will be the best thing, since you are so kind, Miss Waynflete. I am staying at the Bells and Motley. I'd rather have Bridget under my eye than up in town. After all, remember what happened there before.'
Miss Waynflete said, 'You mean Lavinia Fullerton?'
'Yes. You would have said, wouldn't you, that anyone would be quite safe in the middle of a crowded city.'
'You mean,' said Miss Waynflete, 'that anyone's safety depends principally on the fact that nobody wishes to kill them?'
'Exactly. We have come to depend upon what has been called the good will of civilization.'
Miss Waynflete nodded her head thoughtfully.
Bridget said, 'How long have you known that — that Gordon was the killer, Miss Waynflete?'
Miss Waynflete sighed. 'That is a difficult question to answer, my dear. I suppose that I have been quite sure in my inmost heart, for some time. But I did my best not to recognize that belief. You see, I didn't want to believe it and so I pretended to myself that it was a wicked and monstrous idea on my part.'
Luke said bluntly, 'Have you never been afraid for yourself?'
Miss Waynflete considered. 'You mean that if Gordon had suspected that I knew, he would have found some means of getting rid of me?'
'Yes.'
Miss Waynflete said gently, 'I have, of course, been alive to that possibility. I tried to be careful of myself. But I do not think that Gordon would have considered me a real menace.'
'Why?'
Miss Waynflete flushed a little. 'I don't think that Gordon would ever believe that I would do anything to — to bring him into danger.'
Luke said abruptly, 'You went as far, didn't you, as to warn him?'
'Yes. That is, I did hint to him that it was odd that anyone who displeased him should shortly meet with an accident.'
