A. E. W. Mason

“ Robert Pettifer watched too.
"The family?" Thresk asked. "Is Mrs. Ballantyne a relation then?"
"She is going to be," said Dick.
"Yes," Mr. Hazlewood explained, still beaming and still watchful. "Richard and Stella are going to be married."
A pause followed which was just perceptible before Thresk spoke again. But he had his face under control. He took the stroke without flinching. He turned to Dick with a smile.
"Some men have all the luck," he said, and Dick, who had been looking at him in bewilderment, cried:
"Mr. Thresk? Not the Mr. Thresk to whom I owe so much?" ”

“ He twisted in his chair, he uttered a murmur of protest. But Robert Pettifer waved him down and continued:
"So he brings her to his house. He canvasses for her. He throws his son in her way. She has beauty—she has something more than beauty—she stands apart as a woman who has walked through fire. She has suffered very much. Look at it how one will, she has suffered beyond her deserts. She has pretty deferential ways which make their inevitable appeal to women as to men. In a word, Hazlewood sets the ball rolling and it gets beyond his reach."
Thresk nodded. ”

“ Mr. Hazlewood stammered, "but a witness, I think, only answers the questions put to him."
"That is so," said Thresk, "if he is a wise witness." He took one of the miniatures out of the drawer and held it to the light. But Mr. Hazlewood was not to be deterred.
"And subsequent reflection," he continued obstinately, "might suggest that all the questions which could throw light upon the trial had not been put."
Thresk replaced the miniature in the drawer in front of him and leaned back in his chair. He looked now straight at Mr. Hazlewood. ”