realized how exhausted he was and how stiff. His wet clothes clung to his body inhospitably. He held out his hands to her, but she refused them.
âPlease leave me,â she cried. âPlease go back to Darroch Mor yourself.â Her voice failed. Her posture expressed utter dejection.
âListen to me,â he urged in gentle tones. âWhatever your motive in jumping into the water may have been, that attempt has failed. Providence, if I may say so, has preserved your life. And surely for a purpose. You cannot repeat the attempt because, if need be, I shall remain with you till morning. And Iâm stronger than you are. In the morning I shall hand you over to the police if I think there is the least likelihood of your repeating your attempt.â
âYou donât understand. My life isnât worth saving. I promise you that it isnât worth saving.â
âThereâs your son.â
She cried out:
âDonât remind me of him.â
âI must remind you of him.â
âHeâll forget. He wonât remember. He wonât knowâ¦â She broke off, wringing her hands.
âWould you leave him to strangers?â
âStrangers. Itâs I who am the stranger.â
Dr. Hailey remained silent a moment then he said:
âI saw those bruises on your neck.â
Her hands went up to the collar of her dress. She drew it more tightly round her neck. She did not answer him.
âA doctor can see at a glance that you were attacked by someone within the last twenty-four hours.â
Still she offered no explanation. After a little while he urged her to tell him what had happened.
âIf youâre frank with me, I think I may be able to help you,â he said. âBelieve me, itâs folly not to be frank in such cases as this.â
âI would rather not talk about it.â
Suddenly she raised her face to him.
âIn a sense your knowledge of those bruises is a professional secret?â she asked.
âPossibly.â
âPromise me you wonât tell anybody about them.â
He considered for a moment.
âVery well,â he said. He extended his arm. âI insist on your walking. You mustnât sit still. Itâs as much as your lifeâs worth.â
She rose and, after a momentâs hesitation, took his arm. He thought that her weakness was passing; a moment later she reeled and would have fallen if he had not supported her.
âI donât think I can walk.â
âYou must try.â
He gave her his flask again and made her drink from it. They stumbled laboriously along the shore of the loch towards a clump of trees through which the carriage-way passed. When they reached the first of these trees he stood to allow her to breathe herself.
âI think you would comfort yourself,â he told her, âif you confessed why you tried to take your life.â
âNo.â
âDuchlan knew that you were going to drown yourself.â
She started away from him and then caught at the trunk of a tree. In the silence which fell between them, he heard the screech owl keeping its vigil beside the castle.
âHow do you know that?â
âHe came down here a little time ago.â
âHe told you?â
âNo. Nothing.â
She sighed, expressing her relief. She took his arm again.
âItâs my business to guess what people do not tell me,â he said, âand that has become my habit. If your father-in-law knew what you were going to do, he must have approved, since he did not prevent. That can only mean that he associates you in some way with the death of his sister.â
He paused. He was aware that she had listened to him with breathless attention.
âWell?â
âI canât tell you anything.â
âYou donât deny the justice of my reasoning.â
âI canât tell you anything.â
He considered a moment, wondering whether or not to try