harleslearnedaboutmyaffairs.”
IknewalreadythatSirCharlesBaskervillehadmadeStapletonhisalmoneruponseveraloccasions,sothelady’sstatementboretheimpressoftruthuponit.
“DidyoueverwritetoSirCharlesaskinghimtomeetyou?”Icontinued.
Mrs.Lyonsflushedwithangeragain.“Really,sir,thisisaveryextraordinaryquestion.”
“Iamsorry,madam,butImustrepeatit.”
“ThenIanswer,certainlynot.”
“NotontheverydayofSirCharles’sdeath?”
Theflushhadfadedinaninstant,andadeathlyfacewasbeforeme.Herdrylipscouldnotspeakthe“No”whichIsawratherthanheard.
“Surelyyourmemorydeceivesyou,”saidI.“Icouldevenquoteapassageofyourletter.Itran‘Please,please,asyouareagentleman,burnthisletter,andbeatthegatebyteno’clock.’”
Ithoughtthatshehadfainted,butsherecoveredherselfbyasupremeeffort.
“Istherenosuchthingasagentleman?”shegasped.
“YoudoSirCharlesaninjustice.Hedidburntheletter.Butsometimesalettermaybelegibleevenwhenburned.Youacknowledgenowthatyouwroteit?”
“Yes,Ididwriteit,”shecried,pouringouthersoulinatorrentofwords.“Ididwriteit.WhyshouldIdenyit?Ihavenoreasontobeashamedofit.Iwishedhimtohelpme.IbelievedthatifIhadaninterviewIcouldgainhishelp,soIaskedhimtomeetme.”
“Butwhyatsuchanhour?”
“BecauseIhadonlyjustlearnedthathewasgoingtoLondonnextdayandmightbeawayformonths.TherewerereasonswhyIcouldnotgetthereearlier.”
“Butwhyarendezvousinthegardeninsteadofavisittothehouse?”
“Doyouthinkawomancouldgoaloneatthathourtoabachelor’shouse?”
“Well,whathappenedwhenyoudidgetthere?”
“Ineverwent.”
“Mrs.Lyons!”
“No,IswearittoyouonallIholdsacred.Ineverwent.Somethingintervenedtopreventmygoing.”
“Whatwasthat?”
“Thatisaprivatematter.Icannottellit.”
“YouacknowledgethenthatyoumadeanappointmentwithSirCharlesattheveryhourandplaceatwhichhemethisdeath,butyoudenythatyoukepttheappointment.”
“Thatisthetruth.”
AgainandagainIcross-questionedher,butIcouldnevergetpastthatpoint.
“Mrs.Lyons,”saidIasIrosefromthislongandinconclusiveinterview,“youaretakingaverygreatresponsibilityandputtingyourselfinave