A shadow rested on his companion's face. “Is her ladyship very much changed?” “Physically, she is in excellent health, I believe. Mentally I believe that there is no change. She has unfortunately the same rather violent prejudice which I am afraid influenced your departure from England.” “In plain words,” Dominey said bitterly, “she has sworn to take my life if ever I sleep under the same roof.” “She will need, I am afraid, to be strictly watched,” the lawyer answered evasively. “Still, I think you ought to be told that time does not seem to have lessened her tragical antipathy.” “She regards me still as the murderer of Roger Unthank?” Dominey asked, in a measured tone. “I am afraid she does.” “And I suppose that every one else has the same idea?” “The mystery,” Mr. Mangan admitted, “has never been cleared up. It is well known, you see, that you fought in the park and that you staggered home almost senseless. Roger Unthank has never been seen from that day to this.” “If I had killed him,” Dominey pointed out, “why was his body not found?” The lawyer shook his head. “There are all sorts of theories, of course,” he said, “but for one superstition you may as well be prepared. There is scarcely a man or a woman for miles around Dominey who doesn't believe that the ghost of Roger Unthank still haunts the Black Wood near where you fought.” “Let us be quite clear about this,” Dominey insisted. “If the body should ever be found, am I liable, after all these years, to be indicted for manslaughter?” “I think you may make your mind quite at ease,” the lawyer assured him. “In the first place, I don't think you would ever be indicted.” “And in the second?” “There isn't a human being in that part of Norfolk would ever believe that the body of man or beast, left within the shadow of the Black Wood, would ever be seen or heard of again!” CHAPTER IV