|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 72
He was interrupted there by the ringing of the front door
bell, at the sound of which he and Mary looked at each other.
"Who can that be?" said Mary. "It's past ten o'clock."
Ransford offered no suggestion. He sat silently waiting,
until the parlourmaid entered.
"Inspector Mitchington would be much obliged if you could give
him a few minutes, sir," she said.
Ransford got up from his chair.
"Take Inspector Mitchington into the study," he said. "Is he
alone?"
"No, sir--there's a gentleman with him," replied the girl.
"All right--I'll be with them presently," answered Ransford.
"Take them both in there and light the gas. Police!" he went
on, when the parlourmaid had gone. "They get hold of the
first idea that strikes them, and never even look round for
another, You're not frightened?"
"Frightened--no! Uneasy--yes!" replied Mary. "What can they
want, this time of night?"
"Probably to tell me something about this romantic tale of
Dick's," answered Ransford, as he left the room. "It'll be
nothing more serious, I assure you."
But he was not so sure of that. He was very well aware that
the Wrychester police authorities had a definite suspicion of
his guilt in the Braden and Collishaw matters, and he knew
from experience that police suspicion is a difficult matter to
dissipate. And before he opened the door of the little room
which he used as a study he warned himself to be careful--and
silent.
The two visitors stood near the hearth--Ransford took a good
look at them as he closed the door behind him. Mitchington he
knew well enough; he was more interested in the other man, a
stranger. A quiet-looking, very ordinary individual, who
might have been half a dozen things--but Ransford instantly
set him down as a detective. He turned from this man to the
inspector.
"Well?" he said, a little brusquely. "What is it?"
"Sorry to intrude so late, Dr. Ransford," answered
Mitchington, "but I should be much obliged if you would give
us a bit of information--badly wanted, doctor, in view of
recent events," he added, with a smile which was meant to be
reassuring. "I'm sure you can--if you will."
"Sit down," said Ransford, pointing to chairs. He took one
himself and again glanced at the stranger. "To whom am I
speaking, in addition to yourself, Inspector?" he asked. "I'm
not going to talk to strangers."
"Oh, well!" said Mitchington, a little awkwardly. "Of course,
doctor, we've had to get a bit of professional help in these
unpleasant matters. This gentleman's Detective-Sergeant
Jettison, from the Yard."
"What information do you want?" asked Ransford.
Mitchington glanced at the door and lowered his voice.
"I may as well tell you, doctor," he said confidentially,
"there's been a most extraordinary discovery made tonight,
which has a bearing on the Braden case. I dare say you've
heard of the great jewel robbery which took place at the Duke
of Saxonsteade's some years ago, which has been a mystery to
this very day?"
"I have heard of it," answered Ransford.
"Very well--tonight those jewels--the whole lot!--have been
discovered in Paradise yonder, where they'd been buried, at
the time of the robbery, by the thief," continued Mitchington.
"They've just been examined, and they're now in the Duke's own
hands again--after all these years! And--I may as well tell
you--we now know that the object of Braden's visit to
Wrychester was to tell the Duke where those jewels were
hidden. Braden--and another man--had learned the secret, from
the real thief, who's dead in Australia. All that I may tell
you, doctor--for it'll be public property tomorrow."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|