Chapter 25: Hugh Morice Explains

So soon as Mrs Forrester had gone Mr Morice asked a question.

“What tale has that woman been telling you?”

“She actually says that people have seen me walking about the woods in the middle of the night in my nightdress. That a postman, named Briggs, saw me doing so last night. I believe I am supposed to have been walking in my sleep. Of course it is only some nonsensical rigmarole. I won’t say the whole thing is an invention of Mrs Forrester’s own brain, but it’s the sort of thing she’s fond of.”

“That’s true enough. It is the sort of tale she’s fond of; but, for once in a way, she is justified by fact. Since we are on the subject I may as well inform you that, four nights or rather mornings, ago I myself saw you, at two o’clock in the morning, in Cooper’s Spinney, in some such costume as that which you describe.”

“Mr Morice!”

“I do not know that I should have told you if it had not been for Mrs Forrester; but, since she has intervened, I do so. In any case, it is perhaps as well that you should be on your guard.”

“Are you sure you saw me?”

“I am not likely to make a mistake in a matter of that sort.”

“But are you sure it was me?”

“Certain.”

“What was I doing?”

“You were under the beech tree--our beech tree. You appeared to me to be looking for something on the ground--something which you could not find.”

“But four nights ago? I remember it quite well. I was reading and writing till ever so late. Then I fell asleep directly I got into bed. I certainly never woke again until Evans called me.”

“The probability is that you got out of bed directly you were asleep. It struck me that there was something singular about your whole proceedings. A doubt crossed my mind at the time as to whether you could possibly be in a somnambulistic condition. As I approached you retreated so rapidly that I never caught sight of you again.”

“Do you mean to say I was in my nightdress?”

“As to that I cannot be certain. You had on something white; but it struck me that it was some sort of a dressing-gown.”

“I have no white dressing-gown.”

“On that point I cannot speak positively. You understand that I only saw you for a few seconds, just long enough to make sure that it was you.”

She put her hands up to her face, shuddering.

“This is dreadful! that I should walk in my sleep--in the woods--and everyone see me--and I know nothing! What shall I do?”