foully done to death, but now he derived a certain grim
satisfaction and a strengthening of his nerves for the task that
lay before him.

Only a very few visitors came to Bittermeads, especially now that
Mr. John Clive, who had come often, was laid up. But one or two
of the people from the village came occasionally, and the vicar
appeared two or three times every week, ostensibly to play chess
with Deede Dawson, but in reality, Dunn thought, drawn there by
Ella, who, however, seemed quite unaware of the attraction she
exercised over the good man.

Dunn did not find that he was expected to do very much work, and in
fact, he was left a good deal to himself.

Once or twice the car was taken out, and occasionally Deede Dawson
would come into the garden and chat with him idly for a few minutes
on indifferent subjects. When it was fine he would often bring out
a little travelling set of chessmen and board and proceed to amuse
himself, working out or composing problems.

One day he called Dunn up to admire a problem he had just composed.

"Pretty clever, eh?" he said, admiring his own work with much
complacence. "Quite an original idea of mine and I think the key
move will take some finding. What do you say? I suppose you do
play chess?"

"Only a very little," answered Dunn.