I don't know
how he had picked up his education, but he certainly had contrived to
educate himself some how or other."
"I understand you were friendly together at the time of his death; but
prior to that time----"
Mr. Dunbar smiled.
"I have been in India five-and-thirty years," he said.
"Precisely. But before your departure for India, had you any
misunderstanding, any serious quarrel with the deceased?"
Mr. Dunbar's face flushed suddenly, and his brows contracted as if even
his self-possession were not proof against the unpleasant memories of
the past.
"No," he said, with determination; "I never quarrelled with him."
"There had been no cause of quarrel between you?"
"I don't understand your question. I have told you that I never
quarrelled with him."
"Perhaps not; but there might have been some hidden animosity, some
smothered feeling, stronger than any openly-expressed anger, hidden in
your breast. Was there any such feeling?"
"Not on my part."
"Was there any such feeling on the part of the deceased?"
Mr. Dunbar looked furtively at William Balderby. The junior partner's
eyelids dropped under that stolen glance.
It was clear that he knew the story of the forged bills.
Had the coroner for Winchester been a clever man, he would have followed
that glance of Mr.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161