"Then," said Father Dormer, "your best plan will be to ask C to release you from your promise."

Trix started.

"Oh, but--" she began. She shook her head. "I don't believe he would ever release me," she said.

"You could ask him, anyhow," said Father Dormer.

"Yes, I could," replied Trix doubtfully.

"Try that first," he suggested. "It is the simplest plan."

"Yes," said Trix still doubtfully.

Of course it sounded the simplest plan to Father Dormer, but then he had not the remotest idea of what the secret was, nor whom it concerned.

"You see," said Trix thoughtfully, "he knows A's secret too; at least, I feel sure he does."

"Perhaps," smiled Father Dormer, "it is not quite such a secret as you imagine."

"Oh, yes, it is," nodded Trix. "It is the most complicated affair that ever was, and the most extraordinary. n.o.body would believe it if they didn't know." She sighed.

Father Dormer watched her. He saw that she evidently did consider it a complicated situation, though, in spite of her rather complicated explanation it had appeared quite simple to him. At all events, the solution had. It had not even--as soon as he had grasped the question she had come to ask--appeared to involve much difficulty of answering. It was quite obvious she ought not to run the risk of telling lies (he could guess that her honesty would make it exceedingly difficult for her to evade any awkward questions without telling them), mainly because it was never right to tell lies, but also because the smallest white one--so-called--would appear extremely black to Trix.

"Is that settled now?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," said Trix. She looked at her watch. "I've two hours; I had better do it at once." Then she stopped suddenly. "Oh, Father!" she exclaimed.

"Well?" he queried.

"You didn't guess, did you?"

"How could I?" he asked smiling.

"Oh, because saying that told you that C lived here."

He laughed. "My dear child, when you arrive at Woodleigh one day, and ask me a rather complicated question the next, it is perfectly obvious it is one which has to be settled in this neighbourhood, and at once. I could hardly imagine you have travelled down here on purpose to consult me; or that, if it were a question to be settled in town, you would not wait till your return to consult some other priest on the subject."

Trix smiled.

"I never thought of that," she owned. "But, of course, it is quite obvious. Only I am so afraid of breaking my promise."

She had risen to her feet by now. He held out his hand.

"I would not worry about that, if I were you. You have not broken it in the smallest degree. But now go and get leave to break it, if you can, and set your mind at rest."

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

AN AMAZING SUGGESTION

The avenue and garden were quite deserted as Trix approached Chorley Old Hall. The lawn was one great sheet of unbroken whiteness, flanked by frosted yew hedges, and very desolate.

She pa.s.sed quickly along the terrace towards the front door, feeling almost as if spying eyes were watching her from behind the curtained windows. She took hold of the hanging iron bell-handle and pulled it, its coldness striking through her glove with an icy chill. She heard its clang in some far-off region, yet oddly loud in the dead silence.

Involuntarily she shivered, partly with the cold, and partly with a sudden sense of nervousness.

A second or two pa.s.sed. Trix stared hard at the bra.s.s knocker on the door, trying to still the nervousness which possessed her. There came a sound of steps in the hall, and the door was opened.

"Can I see Mr. Danver?" asked Trix.

Jessop stared, visibly startled.

"It is all right," said Trix quickly. "Don't you remember I had tea here last August?"

Jessop's face relaxed, but he looked a trifle dubious.

"I don't think--" he began.

Trix raised her chin.

"Go and ask him," she said with slight authority. "I will wait in the hall."

Jessop departed, to return after a minute.

"Will you come this way, please, Madam."

Nicholas Danver looked at her as she entered, an odd expression on his face.

He might never have moved from his chair since the day she had last seen him, thought Trix. The only difference in the surroundings was a crackling wood fire now burning on the big hearth.

"Well, Miss Devereux," he said, holding out his hand.

"You don't mind my having come?" queried Trix. "No one saw me."

A slight look of relief pa.s.sed over Nicholas's face.

"I think I am glad you've come," he said. "Sit down, please."

Trix sat down. Her hands were tightly clasped within her m.u.f.f. She was still beating back that quite unaccountable nervousness.

"You had a particular reason for coming to see me?" suggested Nicholas.

Trix nodded.