"I would rather know that," he said to himself, "than save a dozen
Clives ten times over." Though again it occurred to him that on
this point Clive might hold another opinion. "If he hadn't made
such a blundering row I might have got to know who Deede Dawson's
visitor was. I must try to get a word with Clive tomorrow by hook
or crook, though I daresay Deede Dawson will be very much on the
lookout."

However, next morning Deede Dawson not only made no reference to
the events of the night, but had out the car and went off
immediately after breakfast without saying when he would be back.

As soon after his departure as possible, Dunn also set out and took
his way through the woods towards Ramsdon Place on the look-out for
an opportunity to speak to Clive unobserved.

He thought it most likely that Clive would be drawn towards the
vicinity of Bittermeads by the double fascination of curiosity and
fear, and he supposed that if he waited and watched in the woods he
would be sure presently to see him.

But though he remained for long hidden at a spot whence he could
command the road to Bittermeads from Ramsdon Place, he saw nothing
at all of Clive, and the sunny lazy morning was well advanced when
he was startled by the sound of a gun shot some distance away.

"A keeper shooting rabbits, I suppose," he thought, looking round
just in time to see Ella running through the wood from the direction
whence the sound of the shot had seemed to come, and then vanish
again with a quick look behind her into the heart of a close-growing