ich was written: _I think the odd trick is mine_.'

This cruel vindictiveness, joined with a schoolboy love of taunting the
vanquished foe, was very characteristic. Susie gave Arthur Burdon the
note which she had found in Margaret's room. He read it and then thought
for a long time.

'I'm afraid she's right,' he said at length. 'It seems quite hopeless.
The man has some power over her which we can't counteract.'

Susie wondered whether his strong scepticism was failing at last.
She could not withstand her own feeling that there was something
preternatural about the hold that Oliver had over Margaret. She had
no shadow of a doubt that he was able to affect his wife even at a
distance, and was convinced now that the restlessness of the last few
days was due to this mysterious power. He had been at work in some
strange way, and Margaret had been aware of it. At length she could
not resist and had gone to him instinctively: her will was as little
concerned as when a chip of steel flies to a magnet.

'I cannot find it in my heart now to blame her for anything she has
done,' said Susie. 'I think she is the victim of a most lamentable fate.
I can't help it. I must believe that he was able to cast a spell on her;
and to that is due all that has happened. I have only pity for her great
misfortunes.'

'Has it occurred to you what will happen when she is back in Haddo's
hands?' cried Arthur. 'You know as well as I do how revengeful he is and
how hatefully cruel. My heart bleeds when I think of the tortures, sheer
physical tortures, which she may suffer.'

He walked up and down in desperation.

'And yet there's nothing whatever that one can do. One can't go to the
police and say that a man has cast a magic spell on his wife.'

'Then you believe it too?' said Susie.

'I don't know what I believe now,' he cried. 'After all, we can't do
anything if she chooses to go back to her husband. She's apparently her
own mistress.' He wrung his hands. 'And I'm imprisoned in London! I can't
leave it for a day. I ought not to be here now, and I must get back in a
couple of hours. I can do nothing, and yet I'm convinced that Margaret is
utterly wretched.'

Susie paused for a minute or two. She wondered how he would accept the
suggestion that was in her mind.

'Do you know, it seems to me that common methods are useless. The only
chance is to fight him with his own weapons. Would you mind if I went
over to Paris to consult Dr Porhoet?