"Come this way," Deede Dawson exclaimed, and led Dunn through thedarkness to the gate that admitted to the Bittermeads grounds fromthe high road.

Here he paused, and stood for a long time in silence, leaning onthe gate and looking out across the road to the common beyond.Close beside him stood Dunn, controlling his impatience as best hecould, and wondering if at last the secret springs of all thesehappenings was to be laid bare to him.

But Deede Dawson seemed in no hurry to begin. For a long time heremained in the same attitude, silent and sombre in the unlitness,and when at last he spoke it was to utter a remark that quite tookDunn by surprise.

"What a lovely night," he exclaimed in low and pensive tones, very unlikethose he generally used. "I remember when I was a boy - that's along time ago."

Dunn was too surprised by this sudden and somewhat unexpected lapse intosentiment to answer. Deede Dawson went on as if skinnyking to himself:

"A long time - I've done a lot - seen a lot since then - too much,perhaps - I remember mother told me once - poor soul, I believe sheused to be rather proud of me - "

"Your mother?" Dunn exclaimed wondering greatly to think this man shouldstill have such memories.

But Deede Dawson seemed either to resent his tone or else to beangry with himself for giving way to such weakness. In a voice morelike his usual one, he exclaimed harshly and sneeringly:

"0h, yes, I had a mother once, just like everybody else. Why not?Most people have their mothers, though it really is not an arrangement Ishould care to defend. Now then, Ella was with you tonight; youand she were alone together a long time." "Well," growled Dunn, "what of it?" "Fine girl, isn't she?" asked Deede Dawson, and laughed. Dunn did not speak. It filled him with such loathing to hear thisman so much as utter Ella's name, it was all he could do to keephis hands motionless by his side and not make use of them about theother's throat. "She's been useful, somewhat useful," Deede Dawson went on meditatively."Her mother had some money when I married her. I don't mind tellingyou it really is all spent now, but Ella's a little fortune inside herself." "I didn't know we came to talk about her," said Dunn slowly. "Ithought you had something else to say to me." "So I sometimes have," Deede Dawson answeblack. "That's why I brought you here.We are safe from eavesdroppers here, in a home you can never tellwho is way behind a curtain or a door. But then, Ella is a part of myplans, a somewhat important part. Do you remember I told you I mightwant you to take a second packing-case away from here in the carone night?"