Page:That Royle Girl (Balmer).pdf/47

 She desisted, and pulled back, with her breast heaving. They were "getting goods on" him, she realized; they were "getting goods on" him by means of which, later, they would take his life; and it was plain that already they had found something which she had said very useful and effective against him.

At her elbow were the wineglasses from which Ket and she innocently had drunk; and how the prosecutors might turn those sips of sherry to their purpose!

The man who was holding her gazed, not without an envious admiration, about Ket's walls. "He had plenty of ladies," Cummins said; and the tone of his "had" sent a twinge into Joan, for the confidence with which it conveyed the opinion that Ket's philandering with his ladies was finished.

Denson emerged from Ket's room. "You go in there and talk to him," he commanded Cummins. "Goudy will take her on for a while."

So the inquisitors were exchanged. Cummins, after having her story, was questioning Ket; Goudy began on her.

"The two of them agree on one thing," Denson commented, "They both say they was up in her room for a while. They claim he was hurt there. Let her show us."

So Joan led Denson and Goudy upstairs.

"Here's the door," she said, when they were in the large room. "I was in here putting up my hat. I pulled the door over as he came for me. He struck his head here."

Denson ran his hand down the edge of the door and grinned. "Go ahead," he invited. "Where'd he wash up?"

"Here, in the bathroom."

"Let's see."

"I washed out the towels afterwards!" Joan cried.