"My God, Wingate," he cried, "you've killed him! You'll swing for this
job, after all!"
There followed a few moments of tense and awestruck silence. Then an
evil smile parted Rees' lips, and he looked at Wingate with triumphant
malice.
"This is murder!" he exclaimed.
"So your excellent uncle has already intimated," Wingate replied. "I am
sorry that it has happened, of course. As for the consequences, however,
I do not fear them."
He crossed the room and rang the bell. Once more a servant in plain
clothes made his appearance with phenomenal quickness.
"Send to her ladyship's room," Wingate directed, "and enquire the name
and address of Lord Dredlinton's doctor. Let him be fetched here at once.
Tell two of the others to come down. Lord Dredlinton must be carried into
his bedroom."
The man had scarcely left the room before the door was opened again and
Grant himself appeared. This time he closed the door behind him and came
a little way towards Wingate.
"Inspector Shields is here, sir," he announced in an agitated whisper.
Wingate stood for a moment as though turned to stone.
"Inspector Shields?" he repeated. "What does he want?"
"He wants to see Lord Dredlinton. I explained that it was an
inconvenient time, but he insisted upon waiting."
Wingate hesitated for a moment, deep in thought.
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