Ransom's bag," came from Harper in ill-disguised
amazement. Even his sang-froid was leaving him before these evidences
of a plot so deep as to awaken awe. "Where did you get it? Not from Mrs.
Ransom herself? Her own surprise is warranty for that."
"No, I got it from the river, another reason why I credited her drowning.
It was fished up from the sand, a little way from the Fall. My man found
it; I had sent him there in a vain hope that he might find evidence of
the tragedy which others had overlooked. He did, but he told no one but
me. You flung the thing too far," he remarked to Georgian. "You should
have dropped it nearer the bank. Only such a prodder as my man Ives would
ever have discovered it."
Georgian shook her head, impatient at such banalities, in the face of the
important matters they had to discuss. "To the point," she cried, "tell
these men what will clear me of everything but a wild attempt at
freedom."
"I have said what I had to say," returned her brother.
Georgian's head fell. For a moment her courage seemed to fail her.
Mr. Harper rose and locked the door.
"We must have no intruders here," said he, pausing with a certain sense
of shock, as he noticed the faint smile, full of some sinister meaning,
which for an instant twisted Hazen's lips at these words.
But the delay was but momentary.
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