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Page 35
"Ah!" murmured Harley. He took up the telephone. "City 400," he
said.... "Is that the Commissioner's Office, New Scotland Yard?
... Paul Harley speaking. Would you please inquire if Detective
Inspector Wessex has gone?"
While awaiting a reply he looked up at Innes. "Is there anything
else?" he asked.
"Only the letters, Mr. Harley."
"No callers?"
"No."
"Leave the letters, then; I will see to them. You need not wait."
A moment later, as his secretary bade him good-night and went out
of the office:
"Hello," said Harley, speaking into the mouthpiece... "The
inspector has gone? Perhaps you would ask him to ring me up in
the morning." He replaced the receiver on the hook.
Resting his chin in his hands, he began to read from the
typewritten pages before him. His assistant's report was
conceived as follows:
'Re Mr. Nicol Brinn of Raleigh House, Piccadilly, W. I.
'Mr. Nicol Brinn is an American citizen, born at Cincinnati,
Ohio, February 15, 1884. He is the son of John Nicolas Brinn of
the same city, founder of the firm of J. Nicolas Brinn,
Incorporated, later reconstituted under the style of Brinn's
Universal Electric Supply Corporation.
'Nicol Brinn is a graduate of Harvard. He has travelled
extensively in nearly all parts of the world and has access to
the best society of Europe and America. He has a reputation for
eccentricity, has won numerous sporting events as a gentleman
rider; was the first airman to fly over the Rockies; took part in
the Uruguay rebellion of 1904, and held the rank of lieutenant
colonel of field artillery with the American forces during the
Great War.
'He has published a work on big game and has contributed numerous
travel articles to American periodicals. On the death of Mr.
Brinn, senior, in 1914, he inherited an enormous fortune and a
preponderating influence in the B.U.E.S.C. He has never taken any
active part in conduct of the concern, but has lived a restless
and wandering life in various parts of the world.
'Mr. Nicol Brinn is a confirmed bachelor. I have been unable to
find that he has ever taken the slightest interest in any woman
other than his mother throughout his career. Mrs. J. Nicolas
Brinn is still living in Cincinnati, and there is said to be a
strong bond of affection between mother and son. His movements on
yesterday, 4th June, 1921, were as follows:
'He came out of his chambers at eight o'clock and rode for an
hour in the park, when he returned and remained indoors until
midday. He then drove to the Carlton, where he lunched with the
Foreign Secretary, with whom he remained engaged in earnest
conversation until ten minutes to three. The Rt. Hon. gentleman
proceeded to the House of Commons and Mr. Brinn to an auction at
Christie's. He bought two oil paintings. He then returned to his
chambers and did not reappear again until seven o'clock. He dined
alone at a small and unfashionable restaurant in Soho, went on to
his box at Covent Garden, where he remained for an hour, also
alone, and then went home. He had no callers throughout the day.'
Deliberately Paul Harley had read the report, only removing his
hand from his chin to turn over the pages. Now from the cabinet
at his elbow he took out his tin of tobacco and, filling and
lighting a pipe, lay back, eyes half closed, considering what he
had learned respecting Nicol Brinn.
That he was concerned in the death of Sir Charles Abingdon he did
not believe for a moment; but that this elusive case, which upon
investigation only seemed the more obscure, was nevertheless a
case of deliberate murder he was as firmly convinced as ever. Of
the identity of the murderer, of his motive, he had not the
haziest idea, but that the cloud which he had pictured as
overhanging the life of the late Sir Charles was a reality and
not a myth of the imagination he became more completely convinced
with each new failure to pick up a clue.
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