Читаем A Dangerous Fortune (1994) полностью

"But is David Middleton a sensible person?" Augusta cried.

"Perhaps not. He appears to have nursed his obsession through the years. God forbid that his persistence should lead him to the truth."

Augusta shuddered as she imagined the consequences. There would be a scandal; the gutter press would say SHAMEFUL SECRET OF BANKING HEIR; the police would be brought in; poor dear Teddy might have to go on trial; and if he should be found guilty--

"Micky, it's too awful to contemplate!" she whispered.

"Then we must do something."

Augusta squeezed his hands, then released them and took stock. She had faced the magnitude of the problem. She had seen the shadow of the gallows fall on her only son. It was time to stop agonizing and take action. Thank God, Edward had a true friend in Micky. "We must make sure David Middleton's inquiries lead nowhere. How many people know the truth?"

"Six," Micky said immediately. "Edward, you and me make three, but we aren't going to tell him anything. Then there is Hugh."

"He wasn't there when the boy died."

"No, but he saw enough to know that the story we told the coroner was false. And the fact that we lied makes us look guilty."

"Hugh is a problem, then. The others?"

"Tonio Silva saw it all."

"He never said anything at the time."

"He was too frightened of me then. But I'm not sure he is now."

"And the sixth?"

"We never found out who that was. I didn't see his face at the time, and he has never come forward. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about him. However, if nobody knows who he is I don't suppose he's any danger to us."

Augusta felt a fresh tremor of fear: she was not sure about that. There was always a danger the unknown witness might reveal himself. But Micky was right to say there was nothing they could do. "Two people we can deal with, then: Hugh and Tonio."

There was a thoughtful silence.

Hugh could no longer be regarded as a minor nuisance, Augusta reflected. His pushy ways were gaining him credit at the bank, and Teddy looked plodding by comparison. Augusta had managed to sabotage the romance between Hugh and Lady Florence Stalworthy. But now Hugh was threatening Teddy in a much more dangerous way. Something had to be done about him. But what? He was a Pilaster, albeit a bad one. She racked her brains and came up with nothing.

Micky said thoughtfully: "Tonio has a weakness."

"Ah, yes?"

"He's a bad gambler. Bets more than he can afford, and loses."

"Perhaps you could arrange a game?"

"Perhaps."