' She
shrugged her shoulders. 'But it's too foolish. If I were a suspicious
woman,' she smiled, 'I should think you had sent it yourself to get me
out of the way.'
The idea flashed through Margaret that Oliver Haddo was the author of it.
He might easily have seen Nancy's name on the photograph during his first
visit to the studio. She had no time to think before she answered
lightly.
'If I wanted to get rid of you, I should have no hesitation in saying
so.'
'I suppose no one has been here?' asked Susie.
'No one.'
The lie slipped from Margaret's lips before she had made up her mind to
tell it. Her heart gave a great beat against her chest. She felt herself
redden.
Susie got up to light a cigarette. She wished to rest her nerves. The box
was on the table and, as she helped herself, her eyes fell carelessly on
the address that Haddo had left. She picked it up and read it aloud.
'Who on earth lives there?' she asked.
'I don't know at all,' answered Margaret.
She braced herself for further questions, but Susie, without interest,
put down the sheet of paper and struck a match.
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