some sweetheart of yours, I suppose? And you have persuaded Mrs. Higgs
to send me this absurd message, asking me to appear for him?"

"No. He's nothing to me. Mrs. Higgs wants him got off, because if he's
convicted he'll tell all he knows, or at least enough to set the police
on."

"And what is that to me?"

Another pause, during which she looked down. Then Carrie raised her eyes
again, and looked at him steadily.

"Oh, well, you know best."

Dudley turned away, muttering something under his breath. But the next
moment he faced her again.

"And you are waiting to take my answer back?"

"Mrs. Higgs said there would be no answer."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"To see whether there is one or not."

"And you're going straight back with it to your granny, whatever it is?"
asked Dudley, with the same sharp tone of cross-examination.

"No. I am not going back to her. But I shall give the message to some
one who is."