"Mr. Clive has been murdered," Dunn said abruptly. "Poachers, it
is said. Did you know?"

"We heard about it as we came through the village," answered Deede
Dawson. "Very sad, very dreadful. It will be a great shock to poor
Ella, I fear. Take the car on to the garage, will you?" he added.

He drove on up the drive, and at the front door they alighted and
entered the house together. Dunn followed, and getting into the
car, drove it to the garage, where he busied himself cleaning it.
As he worked he wondered very much what was the meaning of this
sudden appearance on terms of friendship with Deede Dawson of this
man Allen, whom he had last seen trying to break into the house at
night.

Was Allen an accomplice of Deede Dawson, or a dupe, or, more
probably, a new recruit?

At any rate, to Dunn it seemed that the crisis he had expected and
prepared for was now fast approaching, and he told himself that if
he had failed in Clive's case, those others he was working for he
must not fail to save.

"Looks as if Dawson's plans were nearly ready," he said to himself.
"Well, so are mine."

He finished his work and shutting the garage door, he was turning
away when he saw Ella coming towards him.

She was extremely pale, and her eyes seemed larger than ever, and