’The cow that lows loudest yields least milk,’ muttered Philip. He was greatly incensed. ’Aunt,’ he said angrily, ’this is a quibble unworthy of you. A perfectly clear understanding was come to between us, by the terms of which you were to go halves with me in raising four or five thousand pounds to fund, or otherwise dispose of for the benefit of Miss Cusworth.’
’If I had opposed you,’ said Philip grimly, ’some awkward questions might have been asked relative to the cancelled will.’
’What questions?’ asked Mrs. Sidebottom, looking him straight in the face with defiance.
’As to how that will came to have the signature torn off.’
’They were perfectly welcome to ask that question, but I defy you to find anyone who could answer it.’
She was right, and Philip knew it. Whatever his suspicions might be, he was without a grain of evidence to substantiate an accusation against anyone. Moreover, much as he mistrusted his aunt, he could not bring himself to believe her capable of committing so daring and wicked an act.
’I wish that the old witch-drowning days were back,’ said Mrs. Sidebottom. ’It is clear to me that Salome has been exercising her fascinations upon you. Oh, that she could be pitched into a pool—that one of scalding water, swarming with gold-fish, would suit admirably, because of the colour of her hair. Then sink or swim would be all one—sink for innocence, swim for guilt—clear of her anyway.’
’Do you seriously mean to evade the arrangement come to between us?’ asked Philip. He would not be drawn from his point to side issues.
’I beg your pardon, you did agree to what I proposed.’
’Upon compulsion. No, were I at the strappado, or all the racks in the world, I would not yield on compulsion. There you have Shakspeare again, Phil. I wonder whether you can tell me from what play I quote. If you were a man of letters, you would cap my quotations.’
’There can be no question as to what were the intentions of Uncle Jeremiah.’
’Ah, there I agree with you. Having made a preposterous will, he tore it up, to show that he did not intend to constitute Salome his heiress.’
What was Philip to say? How bring his aunt to her terms of agreement? He remained silent, with closed lips and contracted brows.