"Then it is your cousin that you mean to see," she said softly--"this
man, Marwood, who sent you to the prison."

For a second I was silent. It had suddenly occurred to me that in
asking these questions Sonia might be acting under the instructions of
McMurtrie or her father.

She saw my hesitation and evidently guessed the cause.

"Oh, you needn't think I shall repeat what you tell me," she broke
out almost scornfully. "The doctor and my father are quite capable of
taking care of themselves. They don't want me to act as their spy."

There was a genuine ring of dislike in her voice as she mentioned
their names which made me believe that she was speaking the truth.

"Well," I said frankly, "I was thinking of looking up George just to
see how he has been getting on in my absence. But apart from that I
have every intention of playing straight with McMurtrie. It seems to
me to be my only chance."

A bell tinkled faintly somewhere away in the house, and Sonia got up
off the bed.

"It _is_ your only chance," she said quietly, "but it may be a better
one than you imagine."

And with this encouraging if somewhat obscure remark she went out and
left me to my thoughts.