DINNER AT FERNLY
"You don't believe in impressions?"
"Oh, yes, I do, in a sense. If, as you put it, word should come from her———"
I broke off. The door opened noiselessly and Parker entered with a salver on which were some letters.
"The evening post, sir," he said, handing the salver to Ackroyd.
Then he collected the coffee cups and withdrew.
My attention, diverted for a moment, came back to Ackroyd. He was staring like a man turned to stone at a long blue envelope. The other letters he had let drop to the ground.
"Her writing," he said in a whisper. "She must have gone out and posted it last night, just before—before"
He ripped open the envelope and drew out a thick enclosure. Then he looked up sharply.
"You're sure you shut the window?" he said.
"Quite sure," I said, surprised. "Why?"
"All this evening I've had a queer feeling of being watched, spied upon. What's that———?"
He turned sharply. So did I. We both had the impression of hearing the latch of the door give ever so slightly. I went across to it and opened it. There was no one there.
"Nerves," murmured Ackroyd to himself.
He unfolded the thick sheets of paper, and read aloud in a low voice.
"My dear, my very dear Roger,—A life calls for a life.
[45]
