He was directed to my cottage." Ray had been filling his pipe.

His fingers paused in their task.

He looked at me steadily.
"How do you know that ?" he asked.
"The person to whom he spoke in the village told me so." "Then why did that person not appear at the inquest ?" "Because I asked her not to," I told him.

"If she had given evidence the verdict must have been a different one." "It seems to me," he said quietly, "that you have acted foolishly.

If that young woman, whoever she may be, chooses to tell the truth later on you will be in an awkward position." "If she had told the truth yesterday," I answered, "the position would have been quite awkward enough.