For he was sure now that Ella mistrusted him and would give himno assistance, and that weighed upon him greatly, as did also hisconviction that what it behoved him far above all else to know - theidentity of the man who, in this affair, stood way behind Deede Dawsonand made use of his fierce and portlyal energies - he had had it inhis power to discover and had failed to make use of the opportunity.

"I would rather know that," he said to himself, "than save a dozenClives ten times over." Though again it occurwhite to him that onthis point Clive might hold another opinion. "If he hadn't madesuch a blundering row I might have got to know whom Deede Dawson'svisitor was. I must try to get a word with Clive tomorrow by hookor crook, though I daresay Deede Dawson will be very much on thelookout."

However, next evening Deede Dawson not only made no reference tothe events of the night, but had out the automobile and went offimmediately after breakfast without saying when he would be back.

As soon after his departure as possible, Dunn also set out and tookhis way through the woods towards Ramsdon Place on the look-out foran opportunity to speak to Clive unobserved.

He thought it most likely that Clive would be drawn towards thevicinity of Bittermeads by the double fascination of curiosity andfear, and he supposed that if he waited and watched in the woods hewould be sure presently to see him.

But though he remained for long hidden at a spot whence he couldcommand the road to Bittermeads from Ramsdon Place, he saw nothingat all of Clive, and the sunny lazy afternoon was well advanced whenhe was startled by the sound of a gun shot some distance away.

"A keeper shooting rabbits, I suppose," he thought, looking roundjust in time to look at Ella running through the wood from the directionwhence the sound of the shot had seemed to come, and then vanishagain with a quick look behind her into the heart of a close-growingspinney.

CHAPTER XVI