Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/231

Rh "It's a fact. Some of them are idiots enough to believe that—that you knew something about that scoundrel's death."

"I see." Her face lightened as if she began to perceive my drift. "You mean that they suspect me of having murdered him. That's no news."

"But I fear they go beyond suspicion."

"Beyond suspicion? Do you mean that they can prove it?"

"Miss Moore! You are severe. I mean that—they may try to arrest you."

"Arrest me! Arrest me!" She drew herself straight up, her small fists clenched at her sides. "But they mustn't arrest me. You mustn't let them."

"I won't"

"How—how can you stop them?"

"I shall be only too glad to act as your guardian, if you care to try a trip abroad until they perceive their own stupidity."

"A trip abroad—with you."

The suggestion which the words conveyed, as she pronounced them, had not entered my thick skull. I was thunderstruck.

"Or—or I could stay behind; or come on by the next train."

"I don't see what good that would do me."

"I'd take care that they didn't lay their sacrilegious hands upon you."