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Emily Brent gazed thoughtfully out to sea. Then she said:

‘Personally, I am quite sure of it. What do you think?’

‘I don’t know what to think.’

Emily Brent said:

‘Everything goes to support the idea. The way the woman fainted. And the man dropped the coffee tray, remember. Then the way he spoke about it—it didn’t ring true. Oh, yes, I’m afraid they did it.’

Vera said:

‘The way she looked—scared of her own shadow! I’ve never seen a woman look so frightened… She must have been always haunted by it…’

Miss Brent murmured:

‘I remember a text that hung in my nursery as a child. “Be sure thy sin will find thee out.” It’s very true, that. Be sure thy sin will find thee out.’

Vera scrambled to her feet. She said:

‘But, Miss Brent—Miss Brent—in that case—’

‘Yes, my dear?’

‘The others? What about the others?’

‘I don’t quite understand you.’

‘All the other accusations—they—they weren’t true? But if it’s true about the Rogers—’ She stopped, unable to make her chaotic thought clear.

Emily Brent’s brow, which had been frowning perplexedly, cleared.

She said:

‘Ah, I understand you now. Well, there is that Mr Lombard. He admits to having abandoned twenty men to their deaths.’

Vera said: ‘They were only natives.’

Emily Brent said sharply:

‘Black or white, they are our brothers.’

Vera thought:

‘Our black brothers—our black brothers. Oh, I’m going to laugh. I’m hysterical. I’m not myself…’

Emily Brent continued thoughtfully.

‘Of course, some of the other accusations were very far fetched and ridiculous. Against the judge, for instance, who was only doing his duty in his public capacity. And the ex-Scotland Yard man. My own case, too.’

She paused and then went on:

‘Naturally, considering the circumstances, I was not going to say anything last night. It was not a fit subject to discuss before gentlemen.’

‘No?’

Vera listened with interest. Miss Brent continued serenely.

‘Beatrice Taylor was in service with me. Not a nice girl—as I found out too late. I was very much deceived in her. She had nice manners and was very clean and willing. I was very pleased with her. Of course, all that was the sheerest hypocrisy! She was a loose girl with no morals. Disgusting! It was some time before I found out that she was what they call “in trouble”.’ She paused, her delicate nose wrinkling itself in distaste. ‘It was a great shock to me. Her parents were decent folk, too, who had brought her up very strictly. I’m glad to say they did not condone her behaviour.’

Vera said, staring at Miss Brent:

‘What happened?’

‘Naturally I did not keep her an hour under my roof. No one shall ever say that I condoned immorality.’

Vera said in a lower voice:‘What happened—to her?’ Miss Brent said:

‘The abandoned creature, not content with having one sin on her conscience, committed a still graver sin. She took her own life.’

Vera whispered, horror-struck:

‘She killed herself?’

‘Yes, she threw herself into the river.’

Vera shivered.

She stared at the calm delicate profile of Miss Brent. She said:

‘What did you feel like when you knew she’d done that? Weren’t you sorry? Didn’t you blame yourself?’