What of it, I ask?"
Pike's tone, though short, was civil enough. The forced appearance before
the coroner and public had disturbed his equanimity in no slight degree,
and taken for the present all insolence out of him.
"Should any doubt get afloat that his lordship's death might not have
been accidental, your presence at the spot would tell against you."
"No, it wouldn't. I left the spot before the accident could have
happened; and I came back to Calne with a witness. As to the death having
been something worse than accident, not a soul in the place has dreamt of
such a thing except me."
"Except you! What do you mean?"
Pike leaned more over the hurdles, so as to bring his disreputable face
closer to Mr. Gum, who slightly recoiled as he caught the low whisper.
"I don't think the death was accidental. I believe his lordship was just
put out of the way quietly."
"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the shocked clerk. "By whom? By you?" he
added, in his bewilderment.
"No," returned the man. "If I'd done it, I shouldn't talk about it."
"What do you mean?" cried Mr. Gum.
"I mean that I have my suspicions; and good suspicions they are. Many a
man has been hung on less. I am not going to tell them; perhaps not ever.
I shall wait and keep my eyes open, and bring them, if I can, to
certainties. Time enough to talk then, or keep silent, as circumstances
may dictate.
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