"I was thinking of Mr. Hilliston," he returned quietly. "I am not at all satisfied with his conduct. He is hostile to us, Claude."
"Hostile? Impossible! He is doing all in his power to help us."
"So it appears," answered Tait dryly. "Nevertheless I think that he intends to thwart us in our plans--if he can."
"Now you are talking nonsense," said Claude, as they resumed their walk. "Why, he first brought the case under my notice."
"And why? Because he wanted to be beforehand with Mrs. Bezel. If he had not told she would have done so, and naturally enough he wished to be first in the field."
"But I can't think ill of him," protested Larcher. "He has been a second father to me."
"No doubt! There is such a thing as remorse."
"Not at all. I am suspicious. We will discuss Mr. Hilliston later on, when I will give you my reasons for speaking thus. Meanwhile he has decided to play a game against us!"
"Pardon me. I think he has, but what it is I am unable to say--as yet. However, he will make two moves in the game within the next twenty-four hours."
"Indeed," said Claude ironically, "perhaps you can tell me what those two moves will be."
"Certainly," answered Tait serenely. "As to the first, he will call at my rooms to find out if we have gone to see Mrs. Bezel to-night, and----"
"Because he thinks you are staying with me. And, moreover, knowing that we are acting together, he knows your movements will coincide with mine."
"He will write you a letter asking you to stay with him at Kensington Gore."
"I don't see what there is suspicious about that," said Claude petulantly.
"I know you don't. But it is my belief that he is afraid of your investigations in this case, and wishes to keep you under his eye."
"But good Heavens, man! he advised me to pursue the matter."
"On the contrary, he advised you to let sleeping dogs lie."
"So he did," cried Claude, with a sudden recollection of the interview. "But why? What harm can my investigations do to him?"
"Ah! That is a difficult question to answer," said Tait reflectingly. "To my mind they will show that Hilliston was not the friend of your father he pretended to be."
"But according to those papers he acted like a friend throughout."
Larcher faced round suddenly, struck by the significance of the remark. He was a clever young man, but could not see clearly before him, and honest himself, was far from suspecting dishonesty in others. Instead of agreeing with Tait in his estimate of Hilliston, he vehemently defended the lawyer.