"
"Oh, it's natural enough!" agreed Collingwood. "But--if things are as I
think, Pratt would be an incubus, a mill-stone, for ever. Anyway, I came
out to tell you what I've learned, and what I have an idea may be the
truth, and above all, to get your definite opinion. You want the Pratt
influence out of the way--at any cost?"
"At any cost!" she affirmed. "Even if I have to go back to earning my
own living! Whatever pleasure in life could there be for me, knowing
that at the back of all this there is that--what?"
"Pratt!" answered Collingwood. "Pratt! He's the shadow--with his deep
schemes. However, as I said--there may be--developing at this
moment--another way of getting at Pratt. Gentlemen like Pratt, born
schemers, invariably forget one very important factor in life--the
unexpected! Even the cleverest and most subtle schemer may have his
delicate machinery broken to pieces by a chance bit of mere dust getting
into it at an unexpected turn of the wheels. And to turn to plainer
language--I'm going back to Barford now to hear what another man has to
say concerning certain of Pratt's recent movements."
Eldrick was already waiting when Collingwood reached his chambers: Byner
came there a few moments later. Within half an hour the barrister had
told his story of Cobcroft, and the inquiry agent his of his visit to
the _Green Man_ and the quarries.
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