The Crime at Black Dudley · Chapter 16 (2/2)

“And that’s all you know, then?” said Meggie.

“All?” Mrs. Meade’s tone was eloquent. “Some people’ll find it’s quite enough. Those three didn’t actually do the murder, but there’s someone in the house who did, and⁠—” She broke off sharply and glanced from one to the other. “Why’re you two lookin’ at one ’nother so?” she demanded.

But she got no reply to her question. Meggie and Abbershaw were regarding each other fixedly, the same phrase in the old woman’s remark had struck both of them, and to each it bore the same terrible significance. “Those three didn’t actually do the murder, but there’s someone in the house who did.” Dawlish, Gideon, Whitby were cleared of the actual crime in one word; the servants were all confined in their own quarters⁠—Albert Campion insisted that he locked the door upon them. Who then could be responsible? Albert Campion himself⁠—or one of their own party? Neither spoke⁠—the question was too terrifying to put into words.