It seemed to him now that he had at the
time discerned a certain fateful quality in the apparition.
And he and his wife had actually been talking of old
Kervick at the moment! It was their disagreement over
him which had prevented her explaining about the new
head-gardener. There was an effect of the uncanny in all this.
And what did Gafferson want? How much did he know? The idea
that perhaps old Kervick had found him out, and patched up
with him a scheme of blackmail, occurred to him, and in the
unreal atmosphere of his mood, became a thing of substance.
With blackmail, however, one could always deal; it was
almost a relief to see the complication assume that guise.
But if Gafferson was intent upon revenge and exposure
instead? With such a slug-like, patient, tenacious fool,
was that not more likely?
Reasonable arguments presented themselves to his mind
ever and again: his wife had known of Gafferson's work,
and thought highly of it, and had been in a position
to learn of his leaving Hadlow. What more natural than
that she should hasten to employ him? And what was it,
after all, that Gafferson could possibly know or prove? His
brother-in-law had gone off, and got too drunk to live,
and had died. What in the name of all that was sensible
had this to do with Thorpe? Why should it even be supposed
that Gafferson associated Thorpe with any phase of the
business? And if he had any notion of a hostile movement,
why should he have delayed action so long? Why indeed!
Reassurance did not come to him, but at last an impulse
to definite action turned his footsteps toward the cluster
of greenhouses in the deepening shadow of the mansion.
Pages:
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480