But
they had helped her, and for that he was glad.
When she had gone, he sat down on the edge of his narrow bed and dropped
his face in the cup of his hands. How hopeless it seemed. What chance had
he of a future now--with Cleek against him? Cleek the unraveller of a
thousand riddles that had puzzled the cleverest brains in the universe!
Cleek would never admit to having made a blunder this time--though there
was a sort of grim satisfaction in the knowledge that he _had_ blundered,
though he himself was the victim.
... He sat there for a long time, thinking, his brain wearied, his heart
like lead. Bennett's heavily-booted feet upon the stone floor brought him
back again to realities.
"There's another visitor, sir," said he. "A gentleman. Seen 'im up at the
Towers, I 'ave. Name of West, sir. Constable Roberts says as 'ow you may
see him."
How kind of the constable, thought Nigel bitterly. His mouth twisted into
a wry smile. Then his eyes lightened suddenly. Tony West, eh? So all the
rats hadn't deserted the sinking ship, after all.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187