Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/263

 for the papers and the murder as cause and effect. The one danger grew into another, and each took fearfulness from the other. No effort of the will could quite quiet the nervous tremor which the realisation of this fact brought. His face was drawn with pain as he answered:

"There can be no man more concerned than I to get these papers."

"Fortunately I know you were on the train when the shot was fired."

The answer implied that but for this Trafford would suspect him, and Matthewson so understood it; but his anxiety was too great for him even to resent the implication. His brother was no less interested than himself in the papers. He must warn him, warn him instantly. This man was pitiless when a task was set before him; Henry must not let himself be drawn into a trap.

"We have supposed," Matthewson said, as much to ease the situation, as from any particular bearing of the remark on the matter under discussion, "that you had taken the papers under cover of taking the blotter from the desk."