"Now listen to what follows--and bear in mind what your mother knew, and
had done, at the time she wrote this letter. This is how the letter goes
on---let every word fix itself in your mind, Miss Mallathorpe!"
"'The gates of the foot-bridge are locked, but the enclosed keys
will open them. I will meet you amongst the trees on the further
side. Be sure to come and to bring _that document_--I have
something to say about it on seeing it again.'"
Pratt turned to the drawer from which he had taken the letter and took
out two small keys, evidently belonging to patent padlocks. He held them
up before Nesta.
"There they are!" he said triumphantly. "Been in my possession ever
since--and will remain there. Now--do you wish to read the letter? I've
read it to you word for word. You don't? Very good--back it goes in
there, with these keys. And now then," he continued, having replaced
letter and keys in his drawer, and turned to her again, "now then, you
see what a diabolical scheme it was that was in your mother's mind
against me. She meant me to meet with the fate which overtook her own
son! She meant me to fall through that bridge. Why? She hoped that I
should break my neck--as he did! She wanted to silence me--but she also
wanted more--she wanted to take from my dead body, or my unconscious
body, the certain something which she was so anxious I should bring with
me, which she referred to as _that document_.
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