Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/290

264 average jury’s eyes—he must see them as those twelve men in the box will see them—and applying that method now, it was very evident to me that the chance of clearing our client was very slim indeed.

The trap came around to the door and in a moment we were off along the sandy road. The day was warm and bright, the air had the sharp salt smell of the ocean, trees and bushes were starting into life under the touch of spring. But Godfrey did not seem to notice any of these things. He kept his eyes straight ahead and his face was very stern. No doubt he was finding the problem much more difficult than he had thought.

But at last we swung down before the door at Edgemere. A man ran out to hold our horse. We asked for Mr. Delroy, and a servant who had been stationed in the vestibule took in our cards. He returned immediately and conducted us to the library. Delroy came forward to meet us, our cards in his hand, a curious look of doubt and perplexity upon his countenance.

“My dear Godfrey,” he began, “I didn’t like to refuse to see you, and yet I’ve declined to talk to reporters”

“You’re not talking to one now, Mr. Delroy,” broke in my companion. “I’ve come down purely in Drysdale’s behalf. Of course, I’ll write up the story, if I succeed in getting him off, but I’ll not use anything I learn here in that way.”

“Oh, that’s all right, then,” and Delroy breathed a sigh of relief. “Glad to see you. And you, too, Mr. Lester.”