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There was no signature； but written like an afterthought across one
corner of the note were the scribbled words：
〃You told me something once； I don't know if you meant it。〃 And
then； underneath； was the addition … 〃He never stops smiling。〃
Twice over Dunn read this strange； disturbing message； and then a
third time； and he made a little gesture of annoyance for it did
not seem to him that the words he read made sense； or else it was
that his brain no longer worked normally； and could not interpret
them。
〃Oh； but that's absurd；〃 he said aloud。
He looked all around him； surprised to see that the face of the
country…side had not changed in any way； but was all just as it had
been before this letter had been put into his hands。
He began to read a third； but stopped half…way through the first
sentence。
〃Then it's Walter all the time；〃 he muttered。 〃Walter … Walter！〃
CHAPTER XXVI
A RACE AGAINST TIME
Even when he had said this aloud it was still as though he could not
grasp its full meaning。
〃Walter；〃 he repeated vaguely。 〃Walter。〃
His thoughts； that had seemed as frozen by the sudden shock of the
tremendous revelation so unconsciously made to him by Ella； began
to stir and move again； and almost at once； with an extraordinary
and abnormal rapidity。
As a drowning man is said to see flash before his eyes the whole
history and record of his life； so now Dunn saw the whole story of
his life…long friendship with Walter pictured before him。
For when he was very small； Walter had been to him like an elder
brother； and when he was older； it was Walter who had taught him to
ride and to shoot； to hunt and to fish； and when he was at school
it was Walter to whom he looked up as the dashing young man of the
world； who knew all life's secrets； and when he was at college it
was Walter who had helped him out of the inevitable foolish scrapes
into which it is the custom of the undergraduate to fall。
Then； when he had come to man's estate； Walter had still been his
confidential friend and adviser。 In Walter's hand he had been
accustomed to leave everything during his absences on his hunting
and exploring trips； and at what time during this long and kindly
association of good…fellowship had such black hate and poison of
envy bred in Walter's heart？
〃Walter！〃 he said aloud once more； and he uttered the name as though
it were a cry of anguish。
Yet； too； even in his utter bewilderment and surprise； it seemed
strange to him that he had never once suspected； never dreamed；
never once had the shadow of a suspicion。
Little things； trifling things； a word； an accent； a phrase that
had passed at the time for a lest； a thousand such memories came
back to him now with a new and terrible significance。
For； after all； Walter was in the direct line。 Only just a few
lives stood between him and a great inheritance； a great position。
Perhaps long brooding on what might so easily be had made him mad。
Dunn remembered now； too； that it was Walter who had discovered that
first murderous attempt which had first put them on their guard； but
perhaps he had discovered it only because he knew of it； and when it
failed； saw his safest plan was to be foremost in tracking it out。
And it was Walter who had last seen poor Charley Wright alone； and
far from Bittermeads。 But perhaps that was a lie to confuse the
search for the missing man； and a reason why that search had failed
so utterly up to the moment of Dunn's own grim discovery in the
attic。
With yet a fresh shock so that he reeled as he stood with the impact
of the thought； Dunn realized that all this implied that every one
of his precautions had been rendered futile that of all his elaborate
plans not one would take effect since all had been entrusted to the
care of the very man against whom they were aimed。
It was Walter for whom the net had been laid in Ottam's Wood； and
Walter to whom had been entrusted the task of drawing that net tight
at the right moment。
It was Walter's friends and agents who were to break into Wreste
Abbey； and Walter to whom had been entrusted the task of defeating
and capturing them。 It was Walter from whom Ella stood in most
danger if her action that morning had been observed； and it was
Walter to whom he had given the task of protecting her。
At this thought； he turned and began to run as fast as he could in
the direction of Bittermeads。
At all costs she must be saved； she who had exposed the whole awful
plot。 For a hundred yards or so he fled； swift as the wind； till
on a sudden he stopped dead with the realization of the fact that
every yard he took that way took him further and further from Ottam's
Wood。
For there was danger there； too … grim and imminent … and sentences
in Ella's hasty letter that bore now to his new knowledge a deep
significance she had not dreamed of。
As when a flash of lightning lights all the landscape up and shows
the traveller dreadful dangers that beset his path； so a wave of
intuition told Dunn clearly the whole conspiracy； so that he saw
it all； and saw how every detail was to be fitted in together。 His
father； General Dunsmore； was to be murdered first at the Brook
Bourne Spring； to which he was being lured； and afterwards； when
Dunn arrived； he was to be murdered； too。 And on him； dead and
unable to defend himself； the blame of his father's death would be
laid。 It would not be difficult to manage。 Walter would arrange
it all as neatly as he had been accustomed to arrange the Dunsmore
business affairs placed in his hands for settlement。
A forged letter or two； Dunn's own revolver used to shoot the old
man with and then placed in Dunn's dead hand when his own turn had
come； convincing detail like that would be easy to arrange。 Why；
the very fact of his disguise； the tangled beard that he had grown
to hide his features with； would appear conclusive。 Any coroner's
jury would return a verdict of wilful murder against his memory on
that one fact alone。
Walter would see to that all right。 A little false evidence
apparently reluctantly given would be added； and all would be
kneaded together into the one substance till the whole guilt of
all that happened would appear to lie solely on his shoulders。
As for motive； it would simply be put forward that he had been in
a hurry to succeed his uncle。 And very likely some tale of a
quarrel with his father or something of that sort would be invented；
and would go uncontradicted since there would be no one to
contradict it。
And most probably what was contemplated at Wreste Abbey was no
ordinary burglary； but the assassination of old Lord Chobham； of
which the guilt would also be set down to him。
Very clearly now he realized that this tremendous plot was aimed；
not only at life； but at honour … that not only was his life
required； but also that he should be thought a murderer。
With the realization of the danger that threatened at Wreste Abbey
he turned and began to run back in the direction where it lay； that
he might take timely warning there； but he did not run a dozen
strides when he remembered Ella again； and paused。
Surely