Page 139 (1/2)

"Is he right, though? About it being a capital crime to tamper with a body?"

"I dinna ken," Jamie said, rather shortly Stripped to the waist, stained with blood and voht, he looked a far cry froone off to play whist

"It scarcelyto tell anyone about it Because if he does, I shall cut hiue to the pigs" He touched the hilt of his dirk, as though assuring himself that it was handy if wanted

"But I am sure ye dinnamy wife, do yesir?" he said to Wylie, with excessive politeness

I was not surprised to see Phillip Wylie shake his head, evidently still incapable of speech Jarim satisfaction and stooped to pick up the cloak he had dropped earlier

Feeling rather weak-kneed after this latest exhibition of the ht," I said, and pushed back a strand of hair "Fine If we’ve got all that settled, thenwhere e?"

"Betty’s er prompted "We don’t knoe don’t knohen, and we don’t knohy--though for the sake of argust the present co to do with it?"

"Verra well" Jaesture and sat down "What about Stephen Bonnet?"

Roger’s expression, hitherto one of interest, darkened at that

"Aye, what about him? Is he involved in this business?"

"Not in the murder, perhaps--but my aunt and her husband were assaulted in their cha by two villains One of as an Irishman" Ja a sinister glance on Phillip Wylie, who had recovered sufficiently to sit up

"I repeat," he said coldly, hands still pressed against his stoentleman of that name, whether Irisher said The words were lance up at him

"I do not know the fellow," he said firmly He took a shallow breath by way of experi it bearable, breathed deeper "Why do you suppose that the Irishe upon Mr and Mrs Innes should be this Bonnet? Did he leave his card, perchance?"

I laughed, surprising , I had to admit to a certain amount of respect for Phillip Wylie Held captive, battered, threatened, doused with coffee, and deprived of his wig, he retained a good deal lanced at ht the corner of his ht

"No," he said "I do claienerate, and a thief And I saw the man with ye, sir, when ye happened upon my wife and myself at the shed"

"Yes," I said "I saw hi there, anyway?" I asked, this question suddenly occurring to me

Wylie’s eyes had widened at Jamie’s accusation At my statement, he blinked He took another deep breath and looked down, rubbing his knuckles beneath his nose Then he looked up at Jaone

"I do not know hiht that I was followed, but, glancing behind reat mind When Isahat lay within the shed"--his eyes flicked toward me, but would not quite ht but what lay before my eyes"

That, I could believe

Wylie lifted his shoulders, and let them fall

"If this Bonnet was indeed behind me, then I must take your word for it, sir And yet I assure you that he was not there by ed glances, but they could hear the ring of truth in Wylie’s words, just as I could There was a brief silence, in which I could hear the horses itated, but were getting restive, anticipating food Dawn light was filtering through the cracks beneath the eaves, a soft, smoky radiance that leached the air inside the stable of all color, and yet revealed the di on the wall, pitchforks and shovels standing in the corner

"The groo soon" Ja up his shoulders in a half-shrug He glanced back at Wylie

"Verra well, sir I accept your word as a gentleman"

"Do you? I a the sarcasht ye to the shed last night"

Wylie had half-risen froain He blinked once or twice, as though thinking, then sighed, giving up

"Lucas," he said simply He didn’t look up, but kept his eyes fixed on his hands, hanging liht he was foaled I raised him, broke him to the saddle, trained him" He sed once; I saw the tremor move beneath the frill at his neck "I came to the stable to have a few moments alone with himto bid him farewell"

For the first time, Jamie’s face lost the shadow of dislike that it bore whenever he looked at Wylie He breathed deep, and nodded slightly

"Aye, I see," he said quietly "And then?"