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Updated: June 19, 2025
As he sat at breakfast in his rooms on the Monday morning after his departure from Barford, turning over his newspaper with no particular aim or interest, his attention was suddenly and sharply arrested by a headline. Even that headline might not have led him to read what lay beneath. But in the same instant in which he saw it he also saw a name Mallathorpe.
He had already formed some idea as to what was in his visitor's mind, and he was secretly glad of the opportunity of talking to her. "About Pratt, eh? What about him, Miss Mallathorpe?" "He was with you for some years, I believe?" she asked. "A good many years," answered Eldrick. "He came to us as office-boy, and was head-clerk when he left us." "Then you ought to know him well," she suggested.
Eldrick turned to Collingwood, and Collingwood to Eldrick and then both turned to Robson. The Mallathorpe family solicitor shook his head impatiently under those questioning glances. "It's not a bit of use appealing to me to know what it means!" he exclaimed. "I know no more than what I've told you.
"To do with me?" she asked. "With you and with your family," said Pratt. "And before we go any further, not a soul knows of it but me." Mrs. Mallathorpe took another searching look at her visitor. Pratt was leaning over the corner of the desk, towards her; already he had lowered his tones to the mysterious and confidential note. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "Go on."
And so I took the chance. Now then what are you going to give me?" Mrs. Mallathorpe, whose nervous agitation was becoming more and more marked, wrung her hands. "I've nothing to give!" she cried. "You know very well he's had the management of everything I don't know how things are " "Stuff!" exclaimed Esther. "I know better than that.
Let her stick to the suggestion I made which, as you remarked, would certainly make a very good line of defence, supposing Pratt even did accuse her. But now what on earth is this document that's been mentioned this paper of which Pratt has possession? Has Mrs. Mallathorpe at some time committed forgery or bigamy or what is it? One thing's sure, however we've got to work quietly.
Robson, and Miss Mallathorpe and anybody," answered Pratt, slowly and firmly, "had better mind what they are saying, Mr. Eldrick. There's such a thing as slander, as you're well aware. I'm not the man to be slandered, or libelled, or to have my character defamed without fighting for my rights. There has been no undue influence! I went to see Mrs. Mallathorpe yesterday at her own request.
We mustn't let Pratt know that we're working. I hope he doesn't know that Miss Mallathorpe came here. Will you come back about four and hear what message she sends me? After that, we could consult." Collingwood went away to his chambers. He was much occupied just then, and had little time to think of anything but the work in hand.
All was ready and now there was nothing to do but to get to Normandale Grange, see Mrs. Mallathorpe, and vanish. He had planned it all out, carefully, when he perceived the first danger signals, and knew that his other plans and schemes were doomed to failure.
If Pratt was going away rather, since he was going away, he would have on his person things of value documents, money. She meant to gain possession of everything that he had; she meant to have a brief interview with Mrs. Mallathorpe; then she meant to drive to Scaleby and to leave that part of the country just as thoroughly and completely as Pratt had meant to leave it.
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