« he repeated, with cold surprise. »Do you always take your ring
off in church, then?«
    As soon as the words were spoken she had gone deadly pale. Was it well to
say that? Must there follow yet more explanation? She with difficulty overcame
an impulse to speak on and disclose all her mind, the same kind of impulse she
had known several times of late. Sheer dread this time prevailed. The eyes that
were upon her concealed fire; what madness tempted her to provoke its outburst?
    »I have never done so before,« she replied confusedly.
    »Why to-day, then?«
    She did not answer.
    »And why did you tell - why did you say it was money?«
    »I can't explain that,« she answered, her head bowed. »I took off the ring
thoughtlessly; it is rather loose; my finger is thinner than it used to be.«
    On the track of cunning Mutimer's mind was keen enough; only amid the
complexities of such motives as sway a pure heart in trouble was he quite at a
loss. This confession of untruthfulness might on the face of it have spoken in
Adela's favour; but his very understanding of that made him seek for subtle
treachery. She saw he suspected her; was it not good policy to seem perfectly
frank, even if such frankness for the moment gave a strengthening to suspicion?
What devilish ingenuity might after all be concealed in this woman, whom he had
taken for simplicity itself.
    The first bell for luncheon disturbed his reflections.
    »Please sit down,« he said, pointing to the chair. »We can't end our talk
just yet.«
    She obeyed him, glad again to rest her trembling limbs.
    »If you suspect it to be a forgery,« she said, when she had waited in vain
for him to speak further, »the best way of deciding is to go at once to Mr.
Yottle. He will remember; it was he drew up the will.«
    He flashed a glance at her.
    »I'm perfectly aware of that. If this is forged, the lawyer has of course
given his help. He would be glad to see me.«
    Again the suspicion was genuine. Mutimer felt himself hedged in; every
avenue of escape to which his thoughts turned was closed in advance. There was
no one he would not now have suspected. The full meaning of his position was
growing upon him; it made a ferment in his mind.
    »Mr. Yottle!
