Her voice was as hard as the expression in her eyes. She pointed to achair,and looked at me carefully as Isat down
‘You know,’ I said,’that your daughter is lost?’
‘I know that Perfectly weil.’
‘Don’t you worry that she might not be just lost,but that she might have met with her death?’
‘ I have.’
‘Why?’
She asked that extraordinary question without the slightest change in her voice, face, or manner. I might have been talking
‘I thought Anne’s mother might be interested in knowing if she was alive or dead.’
‘Just so,’ she said.’ But what is your interested in her, or in me ? Have you no other reason for coming here?’
‘Yes , I do,’ I said.’ Your daughter’sdeath has caused someone I love to be harmed – by a man called Sir Percival Glyde.’ She did not react at all at the mention of this name.
‘I want to make him confess to his crime. You know certain things about him from the time when your husband was the church clerk. I want you to tell me about those events?’
‘Everything that Mrs Clements could tell me.’
‘Mrs Clements is a foolish woman.’ She bit back her anger. And her lips curled in an unpleasant little smile.’ Ab, I begin to understand. You want your revenge on Sir Percival Glyde, and you want my help. That’s why you’ve come here, Well, you don’t know me. I’ve spent years getting back my reputation in this village. Now everyone respects me. I won’t help you.’
‘If you’re afraid of Sir Percival, that’s quite understandable,’ I said.’ He’s a powerful man,and comes from great family’
To my amazement, she suddenly burst out laughing.
‘From a great family! Yes, in deed! Especislly from his mother’s side,’ she said with disgust.