|
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 24
He dropped the analyst's report into a wastebasket and resumed
his restless promenade. Innes, who could see that his principal
wanted to talk, waited. For it was Paul Harley's custom, when the
clue to a labyrinth evaded him, to outline his difficulties to
his confidential secretary, and by the mere exercise of verbal
construction Harley would often detect the weak spot in his
reasoning. This stage come to, he would dictate a carefully
worded statement of the case to date and thus familiarize himself
with its complexities.
"You see, Innes," he began, suddenly, "Sir Charles had taken no
refreshment of any kind at Mr. Wilson's house nor before leaving
his own. Neither had he smoked. No one had approached him.
Therefore, if he was poisoned, he was poisoned at his own table.
Since he was never out of my observation from the moment of
entering the library up to that of his death, we are reduced to
the only two possible mediums--the soup or the water. He had
touched nothing else."
"No wine?"
"Wine was on the table but none had been poured out. Let us see
what evidence, capable of being put into writing, exists to
support my theory that Sir Charles was poisoned. In the first
place, he clearly went in fear of some such death. It was because
of this that he consulted me. What was the origin of his fear?
Something associated with the term Fire-Tongue. So much is clear
from Sir Charles's dying words, and his questioning Nicol Brinn
on the point some weeks earlier.
"He was afraid, then, of something or someone linked in his mind
with the word Fire-Tongue. What do we know about Fire-Tongue? One
thing only: that it had to do with some episode which took place
in India. This item we owe to Nicol Brinn.
"Very well. Sir Charles believed himself to be in danger from
some thing or person unknown, associated with India and with the
term Fire-Tongue. What else? His house was entered during the
night under circumstances suggesting that burglary was not the
object of the entrance. And next? He was assaulted, with
murderous intent. Thirdly, he believed himself to be subjected to
constant surveillance. Was this a delusion? It was not. After
failing several times I myself detected someone dogging my
movements last night at the moment I entered Nicol Brinn's
chambers. Nicol Brinn also saw this person.
"In short, Sir Charles was, beyond doubt, at the time of his
death, receiving close attention from some mysterious person or
persons the object of which he believed to be his death. Have I
gone beyond established facts, Innes, thus far?"
"No, Mr. Harley. So far you are on solid ground."
"Good. Leaving out of the question those points which we hope to
clear up when the evidence of Miss Abingdon becomes
available--how did Sir Charles learn that Nicol Brinn knew the
meaning of Fire-Tongue?"
"He may have heard something to that effect in India."
"If this were so he would scarcely have awaited a chance
encounter to prosecute his inquiries, since Nicol Brinn is a
well-known figure in London and Sir Charles had been home for
several years."
"Mr. Brinn may have said something after the accident and before
he was in full possession of his senses which gave Sir Charles a
clue."
"He did not, Innes. I called at the druggist's establishment this
morning. They recalled the incident, of course. Mr. Brinn never
uttered a word until, opening his eyes, he said: 'Hello! Am I
much damaged?'"
Innes smiled discreetly. "A remarkable character, Mr. Harley," he
said. "Your biggest difficulty at the moment is to fit Mr. Nicol
Brinn into the scheme."
"He won't fit at all, Innes! We come to the final and conclusive
item of evidence substantiating my theory of Sir Charles's
murder: Nicol Brinn believes he was murdered. Nicol Brinn has
known others, in his own words, 'to go the same way.' Yet Nicol
Brinn, a millionaire, a scholar, a sportsman, and a gentleman,
refuses to open his mouth."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|