she considered a great liberty.

"Mr. Clive has been shot," Dunn said abruptly. "They say poachers
did it. He was killed instantly."

Ella did not seem at first to understand. She looked puzzled and
bewildered, and did not seem to grasp the full import of his words.

"What--what do you say?" she asked. "Mr. Clive-- Who's killed?"

Dunn thought to himself that her acting was the most wonderful thing
he had ever seen.

It was extraordinary that she should be able to make that grey
pallor come over her cheeks as though the meaning of what he said
were only now entering her mind; wonderful that she should be able
so well to give the idea of a great horror and a great doubt coming
slowly into her startled eyes.

"Mr. Clive?" she said again.

"Yes, he's been killed," Dunn said. "By poachers, apparently."

"What is that? What is that man saying?" shrilled Mrs. Dawson from
behind. "Mr. Clive--John--why, he was here yesterday."

Dunn turned his back and walked away. He heard Ella call after him,
but he would not look back because he feared what he might do if he
obeyed her call.