I don't believe, in the first place, that Miss King is Mrs.
Lorimer. I don't believe any judge would try to hang his own niece. I
don't believe, if he had tried her, he'd go and stop in the house with
her afterwards, and I'm perfectly certain he wouldn't kiss her. But
you apparently like to pretend to me that you do believe all the rot
you've been talking, and that being so, I'd rather like to know what
you intend to do next."
"It doesn't in the least matter to you what I do," said Meldon. "If
I'm the kind of drivelling idiot you make out, my actions are of no
importance, either to you or to any one else."
"All the same, I'd like to know what they're going to be."
"Why?"
"So that I can do my best to prevent their doing any irreparable
mischief, if possible; though I don't expect it is possible."
"I shall do no irreparable mischief to any one," said Meldon; "except
Simpkins; and you always said you wanted him poisoned."
"I never said such a thing."
"Keep cool, Major. There's no use losing your temper. You and Doyle
and O'Donoghue all said you'd be glad to gloat over Simpkins' corpse.
If you hadn't said so I shouldn't be taking all this trouble.
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