Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/198

186 to her. Or, rather, I will take it to her at once. That will save both time and trouble."

"You are very good, Symonds, but I won't put you to so much inconvenience. I prefer to take it to her myself."

"You are sure that your cousin's name isn't Moore—Miss Bessie Moore?"

"What do you mean? Are you presuming again?"

"Are you prepared to assert, Mr. Ferguson, that this cloak was not worn by Miss Bessie Moore when, last night, she came out of Mr. Edwin Lawrence's room?"

"I'll swear it"

"You will have an opportunity of doing so in the witness-box. Though I warn you to consider what are the pains and penalties of committing perjury, because I shall bring trustworthy witnesses who will prove not only that she wore this cloak, but that the fact of her wearing it was well within your knowledge."

He began to roll it up.

"You are not going to take it away, Symonds—my cousin's property."

"Your cousin's property! Listen to me, Mr. Ferguson. I'm told that you've lived a good deal abroad. I don't know what may be the manners and customs in those parts, but I can assure you that, at home, you cannot do a more serious