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Updated: September 19, 2025
Give me the rooms I want in one of the wings. I shan't disturb any of you. You'll never see me except on business and if you want to." Again the calm acquiescence which would have surprised some men. Why Pratt failed to be surprised by it was because he was just then feeling exceedingly triumphant he believed that Mrs. Mallathorpe was, metaphorically, at his feet.
But remembering that he was now going to stay in the neighbourhood, he decided to say nothing at that time if there was anything in these vague feelings and suspicions it would come out, and could be dealt with when it arose. At present he had need of a little diplomacy. "Oh! I wanted to tell you," he said, after talking to her awhile about Mrs. Mallathorpe.
Mrs. Mallathorpe! it's no good. I've got my own schemes, and my own ideas and I'm going to carry 'em out. I want you to appoint me steward to your property, your affairs, for life." "Life!" she exclaimed. "Life!" "My life," answered Pratt. "And let me tell you you'll find me a first-class man a good, faithful, honest servant. I'll do well by you and yours.
Little by little the mistress began to confide in the maid, and before long Esther Mawson knew the secret and thenceforward she played a double game. Pratt found her useful in arranging meetings with Mrs. Mallathorpe unknown to Nesta, and he believed her to be devoted to him.
"Of course I shall come to terms with you," he answered. "But they'll be my terms and they don't include any giving up of that document. That's flat, Mrs. Mallathorpe!" "Not if I make it worth your while?" she asked. "Listen! you don't know what ready money I can command. Ready money, I tell you cash down, on the spot!" "I've a pretty good notion," responded Pratt.
Quite, quite simple! he had had his run to Normandale Grange and back all about nothing, and for nothing except that he had met Nesta Mallathorpe, whom he was already sufficiently interested in to desire to see again. But having arrived at an explanation of what had puzzled him and made him suspicious, he dismissed that matter from his mind and thought no more of it.
"Hoskins," Pratt went on, "urged upon Mrs. Mallathorpe the necessity of having the bridge closed at once, or barricaded. He pointed out to her from where they stood certain places in the bridge, and in the railing on one side of it, which already sagged in such a fashion, that he, as a man of experience, knew that planks and railings were literally rotten with damp. Now what did Mrs.
And telephone instantly to Barford, and tell them to send the police here at once!" Nesta Mallathorpe, who had just arrived in Barford when Eldrick caught sight of her, was seriously startled as he and Collingwood came running up to her carriage.
And once again he was struck by the fact that all these various happenings in connection with Pratt, and now with Parrawhite, took place at the time of Antony Bartle's death, and he said so. "True enough!" agreed Eldrick. "And once more," pointed out Collingwood. "We're hearing of a hold! Pratt claims to have a hold on Mrs. Mallathorpe now it turns out that Parrawhite boasted of a hold on Pratt.
Mallathorpe, when she wrote that letter to Pratt, intended to have the bridge mended first thing next morning, and that something prevented that being done, and that when she was seen about the shrubberies in the afternoon, she was on her way to meet Pratt before he could reach the dangerous point, so that she could warn him. What do you say, Collingwood?"
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