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Page 102
"Warn the accused," murmured Harley.
Inspector Aylesbury uttered a choking sound, but:
"I have to warn you," he said, "that your answers may be used as
evidence. I will repeat: Did you, or did you not, at about twelve
o'clock last night, shoot, with intent to murder, Colonel Juan
Menendez?"
Ysola Camber leapt up, clutching at her husband's arm as if to hold
him back.
"I did not," he replied, quietly.
"Nevertheless," continued the Inspector, looking aggressively at
Paul Harley whilst he spoke, "I am going to detain you pending
further enquiries."
Colin Camber inclined his head.
"Very well," he said; "you only do your duty."
The little fingers clutching his sleeve slowly relaxed, and Mrs.
Camber, uttering a long sigh, sank in a swoon at his feet.
"Ysola! Ysola!" he muttered. Stooping he raised the child-like figure.
"If you will kindly open the door, Mr. Knox," he said, "I will carry my
wife to her room."
I sprang to the door and held it widely open.
Colin Camber, deadly pale, but holding his head very erect, walked in
the direction of the hallway with his pathetic burden. Mis-reading the
purpose written upon the stern white face, Inspector Aylesbury stepped
forward.
"Let someone else attend to Mrs. Camber," he cried, sharply. "I wish
you to remain here."
His detaining hand was already upon Camber's shoulder when Harley's arm
shot out like a barrier across the Inspector's chest, and Colin Camber
proceeded on his way. Momentarily, he glanced aside, and I saw that his
eyes were unnaturally bright.
"Thank you, Mr. Harley," he said, and carried his wife from the room.
Harley dropped his arm, and crossing, stood staring out of the window.
Inspector Aylesbury ran heavily to the door.
"Sergeant!" he called, "Sergeant! keep that man in sight. He must
return here immediately."
I heard the sound of heavy footsteps following Camber's up the stairs,
then Inspector Aylesbury turned, a bulky figure in the open doorway,
and:
"Now, Mr. Harley," said he, entering and reclosing the door, "you are a
barrister, I understand. Very well, then, I suppose you are aware that
you have resisted and obstructed an officer of the law in the execution
of his duty."
Paul Harley spun round upon his heel.
"Is that a charge," he inquired, "or merely a warning?"
The two glared at one another for a moment, then:
"From now onward," continued the Inspector, "I am going to have no more
trouble with you, Mr. Harley. In the first place, I'll have you looked
up in the Law List; in the second place, I shall ask you to stick to
your proper duties, and leave me to look after mine."
"I have endeavoured from the outset," replied Harley, his good humour
quite restored, "to assist you in every way in my power. You have
declined all my offers, and finally, upon the most flimsy evidence, you
have detained a perfectly innocent man."
"Oh, I see. A perfectly innocent man, eh?"
"Perfectly innocent, Inspector. There are so many points that you have
overlooked. For instance, do you seriously suppose that Mr. Camber had
been waiting up here night after night on the off-chance that Colonel
Menendez would appear in the grounds of Cray's Folly?"
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