"We have reason to suppose," said Mr. Reynolds
slowly, "that the explosives in question have been
stored for some considerable time in a large roomy
cupboard which is situated behind your servant's bed.
As a matter of fact, the man who had come to fetch
them away was already under observation by the police.
He has spent all the winter in a village not far
from Southampton, and he is registered as a Spaniard,
though he came to England from America just before
the War broke out. Of course, these facts have only
just come to my knowledge. But both this Miss Forsyth
and your cousin, Mr. Hayley, declare that they
have long suspected your servant of being a spy."

"Suspected my servant? Suspected Anna Bauer?"
repeated Mrs. Guthrie, in a bewildered tone.

"Then you," went on Mr. Reynolds, "have never
suspected her at all, Mrs. Guthrie? I understand that
but for the accidental fact that Witanbury is just, so
to speak, over the border of the prohibited area for
aliens, she would have _had_ to leave you?"

"Yes, I know that. But she has been with me
nearly twenty years, and I regarded her as being to
all intents and purposes an Englishwoman."

"Did you really?" he observed drily.

"Her daughter is married to an Englishman."

Mr. Reynolds, in answer to that statement, remained
silent, but a very peculiar expression came over his
face. It was an expression which would perchance
have given a clue to Major Guthrie had Major Guthrie
been able to see.

Mrs. Guthrie's face had gone grey with pain and
fear; her eyes had filled with tears, which were now
rolling down her cheeks. She looked indeed different

[[327]]

p326 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p327w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p328

v?