Ravengar immediately he came
out of prison. I heard his threat. I knew him, and I knew that he meant
it. He argued that Mr. Ravengar's financial operations had ruined
thousands of people, including his brother and himself.
'But the inquest on old Powitt--I seem to remember about it. Why didn't
you give evidence?'
'Because I was ill with brain-fever. When I recovered, all was finished.
What was I to do? I warned Mr. Ravengar that young Powitt meant to kill
him. He laughed. Of course, I left him. It is my belief that Mr.
Ravengar was always a little mad. If he was not so before, this affair
had strained his intelligence too much.'
'You did a very wrong thing,' said Hugo, 'in keeping silence.'
'Put yourself in my place,' Camilla answered. 'Think of all the facts.
It was all so queer, And--and--Mr. Ravengar had found me in the room
with young Powitt. Suppose he had--'
'Say no more,' Hugo besought her. 'How long is this ago?'
'Three years last June. In six months young Powitt's sentence will be
up.'
Hugo nearly leapt from his chair.
'Is it possible, Mrs. Tudor,' he asked her eagerly, 'that you are not
aware that in actual practice a reasonably well-behaved prisoner never
serves the full period of his sentence? Marks for good conduct are
allowed, and each mark means so many days deducted from the term.
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