But he had gone without the papers. If he had taken some of the journals, or been found with any book at all in his hand, William might have believed the tale. As it was, he could not countenance it. The old man must have been pottering around the sitting room with a lit candle, must have been drawn by some fancy to the yard, and must have tipped the candle over as he left. He could see how it had happened, but saw no benefit to anyone of attempting to convince the doddering fool of the truth.
“I’ve told you, Mr. West,” Janet said miserably, “you have to take care…”
“I didn’t have a candle,” Charles asserted, voice going querulous.
Schwieger spread his hands. “I can only say I saw one tipped over and burning.”
“I didn’t have one,” Charles insisted, and jerked away when Schwieger attemp
