in packets were the other notes,
just as I had brought them from London. And with them were two small
wash-leather bags, the look of which I knew well. My heart jumped
sickeningly again, for this, too, was utterly unexpected. In those bags
Manderson kept the diamonds in which he had been investing for some time
past. I didn't open them; I could feel the tiny stones shifting under
the pressure of my fingers. How many thousands of pounds' worth there
were there I have no idea. We had regarded Manderson's diamond-buying
as merely a speculative fad. I believe now that it was the earliest
movement in the scheme for my ruin. For any one like myself to be
represented as having robbed him, there ought to be a strong inducement
shown. That had been provided with a vengeance.

'Now, I thought, I have the whole thing plain, and I must act. I saw
instantly what I must do. I had left Manderson about a mile from the
house. It would take him twenty minutes, fifteen if he walked fast, to
get back to the house, where he would, of course, immediately tell
his story of robbery, and probably telephone at once to the police in
Bishopsbridge. I had left him only five or six minutes ago; for all that
I have just told you was as quick thinking as I ever did. It would be
easy to overtake him in the car before he neared the house. There would
be an awkward interview. I set my teeth as I thought of it, and all my
fears vanished as I began to savour the gratification of telling him my
opinion of him. There are probably few people who ever positively looked
forward to an awkward interview with Manderson; but I was mad with
rage. My honour and my liberty had been plotted against with detestable
treachery. I did not consider what would follow the interview. That
would arrange itself.

'I had started and turned the car, I was already going fast toward White
Gables, when I heard the sound of a shot in front of me, to the right.

'Instantly I stopped the car. My first wild thought was that Manderson
was shooting at me. Then I realized that the noise had not been close at
hand. I could see nobody on the road, though the moonlight flooded it. I
had left Manderson at a spot just round the corner that was now about a
hundred yards ahead of me. After half a minute or so, I started again,
and turned the corner at a slow pace. Then I stopped again with a jar,
and for a moment I sat perfectly still.

'Manderson lay dead a few steps from me on the turf within