CHAPTER 15, part 8

It was snowing fast, and Mrs Weston's wheels left a deep track, but in spite of that, Daisy and Robert had not gone fifty yards from the door when they came to a full stop. "Now, what is it?" said Daisy. "Out with it. Why did you talk about the discovery of muslin?" "I only said that we were fortunate in a medium whom after all you picked up at a vegetarian restaurant," said he. "I suppose I may indulge in general conversation. If it comes to that, why did you talk about exposure in the papers?" "General conversation," said Mrs Quantock all in one word. "So that's all, is it?" "Yes," said Robert, "you may know something, and--" "Now don't put it all on me," said Daisy. "If you want to know what I think, it is that you've got some secret." "And if you want to know what I think," he retorted, "it is that I know you have." Daisy hesitated a moment, the snow was white on her shoulder and she shook her cloak.

"I hate concealment," she said. "I found yards and yards of muslin and a pair of Amadeo's eyebrows in that woman's bedroom the very day she went away." "And she was fined last Thursday for holding a seance at which a detective was present," said Robert. "15 Gerard Street. He seized Amadeo or Cardinal Newman by the throat, and it was that woman." She looked hastily round.

"When you thought that the chimney was on fire, I was burning muslin," she said. "When you thought the chimney was on fire, I was burning every copy of 'Todd's News,'" said he. "Also a copy of the 'Daily Mirror,' which contained the case. It belonged to the Colonel. I stole it." She put her hand through his arm.

"Let's get home," she said. "We must talk it over. No one knows one word except you and me?" "Not one, my dear," said Robert cordially. "But there are suspicions. Georgie suspects, for instance. He saw me buy all the copies of 'Todd's News,' at least he was hanging about. Tonight he was clearly on the track of something, though he gave us a very tolerable dinner."