Page:Fletcher - The Middle Temple Murder (Knopf, 1919).djvu/247

 hear that? It is not matter of suspicion, or of idea, or of conjecture, it is fact—fact!"

Mr. Elphick slowly turned his face to Miss Baylis. He gasped out a few words.

"You—did— not—tell—me—this!"

Then Spargo, turning to the woman, saw that she, too, was white to the lips and as frightened as the man.

"I—didn't know!" she muttered. "He didn't tell me. He only told me this morning what—what I've told you."

Spargo picked up his hat.

"Good-night, Mr. Elphick," he said.

But before he could reach the door the old barrister had leapt from his chair and seized him with trembling hands. Spargo turned and looked at him. He knew then that for some reason or other he had given Mr. Septimus Elphick a thoroughly bad fright.

"Well?" he growled.

"My dear young gentleman!" implored Mr. Elphick. "Don't go! I'll—I'll do anything for you if you won't go away to print that. I'll—I'll give you a thousand pounds!"

Spargo shook him off.

"That's enough!" he snarled. "Now, I am off! What, you'd try to bribe me?"

Mr. Elphick wrung his hands.

"I didn't mean that—indeed I didn't!" he almost wailed. "I—I don't know what I meant. Stay, young gentleman, stay a little, and let us—let us talk. Let me have a word with you—as many words as you please. I implore you!"