Miss Silver permitted herself to say “Dear me!” and added, “Has she confided in Miss Wayne?”

“She hasn’t told anyone-except me. You know what those poison-pen letters are-very unpleasant. Miss Wayne is a prim, mousey little thing who couldn’t say boo to a goose. There was an elder sister who died some months ago. I gather it was she who invited Joyce to come to Willow Cottage. She was the elder and always took the lead in everything. As far as the village is concerned, she will go on being Miss Wayne to the end of the chapter, and the other little creature will continue to be Miss Renie.”

Miss Silver coughed.

“Is there someone who dislikes Mrs. Rodney, or who has any reason to resent her presence in Tilling?”

“I can’t imagine why anyone should dislike Joyce. She is one of those pleasant girls-nice to look at without being a beauty, intelligent without being a brain. In fact there are no extremes-nothing to rouse up the sort of enmity which the letters suggest. People are usually sorry for a young widow. She doesn’t make a parade of her mourning, but she was very fond of her husband and she is devoted to the little boy. Miss Wayne has lived there a long time and knows everyone in the neighbourhood. Joyce says they have all been very kind.”

Miss Silver’s gaze rested upon him mildly.

“You say Miss Wayne does not know about these letters?”

“Oh, no. She is a timid person-it would alarm and distress her very much.”

“Has Mrs. Rodney any suspicions?”

“None whatever.”

“And you yourself?”

His colourless eyebrows rose.

“I was there for four days. I was taken to a jumble sale at the village hall. I attended morning service on the Sunday, and was afterwards introduced to several people whom I had missed at the sale. We were invited to tea at the Manor. I have no reason to suspect the parson, the verger, or any of the estimable middle-aged and elderly ladies who assist them to run the parish. In fact I have no reason to suspect anyone- how should I have?”