Never Doubt I Love by Patricia Veryan

you.”
    â€œThey’ve given it a good try,” said Furlong. “Rossiter, Gordon Chandler, Johnny Armitage, all have had narrow escapes.”
    Morris nodded solemnly. “And they properly trapped old Tio. Came within a whisker of having his head lopped. And his whole family with him!”
    Cranford stiffened, and drawled a chill, “Really? How close you kept it, my good friend.”
    Glendenning said hurriedly, “Now pray do not go up in the boughs again. ’Twas beastly sudden. And at all events there was no call to drag you into my latest disaster.”
    â€œVery true.” Cranford limped to the window and gazed unseeingly at the rain-swept streets. “What have jewels to do with it?”
    Furlong said, “I fancy their ranks number in the hundreds now, but the identities of the six masterminds are kept secret, even from each other. With their heads at stake, they take no risks. We’ve learned they wear masks at their meetings, and each of them carries a small jewelled token by way of identification. The leader, or the Squire as he is called, may be the only man to know who they all are.”
    Cranford made no comment, but his lips tightened.
    The afternoon was drawing in. Through a brief silence, Furlong took a taper to the fire and went about lighting candles.
    Cranford said, “I’m with you, of course.” Reflected in the glass, he saw the swift and apprehensive glance exchanged by the other three men, and his hand gripped tight on the handle of the casement. “And now that I’m one of you,” he drawled, turning to face them, “I think you must play fair and tell me the rest.”
    Morris blinked at him. “The—rest?”
    â€œWho they are. Who is their leader.”
    â€œOh,” said Morris, avoiding everyone’s eyes. “That ‘rest.’ Er—well, the truth is—”
    â€œThat—alas, we don’t yet know,” interposed Glendenning.
    â€œIs that so?” Cranford said silkily, “I’d have thought by this time you must have some suspicions at least.”
    Furlong hesitated. “The charges are too deadly to be—er, made without any real proof, but—”
    Cranford’s cool poise vanished. Flushed with rage, he snarled, “Have done with your lies! A jolly time you’ve had with me, and I so gullible as to believe you for a while! You fabricated the whole nonsensical tale just for my benefit, did you? Very amusing! Ha, ha!”
    Glendenning drew a hand across his eyes. “He’s off again! I warn you, Owen—”
    â€œOh, by all means, warn him.” Cranford stamped recklessly to the door. “Poor fellows—what lengths you were obliged to resort to only to shut me out of whatever you’re really about! I’ll give you all credit for lurid imaginations!”
    At his most judicial, Furlong drawled, “If your temper’s this uncontrollable, perhaps—”
    Cranford cut him off savagely. “It ain’t my temper you’re concerned with. I saw you all taking your—your blasted silent vote and deciding a feeble cripple wasn’t up to snuff! Well, never fret, gentlemen! Your private club will not be burdened by—by such an encumbrance as my useless self! I wash my hands of the lot of you!” Flinging the door open, he stalked through it, and tossed a furious and somewhat muddled farewell over his shoulder. “I give you good day. And you may go to the devil!”
    The room he left was silent for several moments.
    The front door slammed hard.
    Morris jumped, and said unhappily, “Oh, Lord! Poor old Perry. I suppose ’tis logical he would think that.”
    â€œIf he hadn’t lost his silly foot, I’d have punched his head for him,” growled Glendenning.
    Furlong said slowly, “To an extent, he was right. He’s had more than his share of misery, so we wanted to keep him clear. Now, he