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Page 53
Nicol Brinn sat down again upon the settee. "Detective
Inspector," said he, "I give you my word of honour as a gentleman
that I last saw Mr. Paul Harley at ten-fifteen on Wednesday
night. Since then, not only have I not seen him, but I have
received no communication from him."
The keen glance of the detective met and challenged the dull
glance of the speaker. "I accept your word, sir," said Wessex,
finally, and he sighed and scratched his chin in the manner of a
man hopelessly puzzled.
Silence fell again. The muted sounds of Piccadilly became audible
in the stillness. Cabs and cars rolled by below, their occupants
all unaware of the fact that in that long, museumlike room above
their heads lay the key to a tragedy and the clue to a mystery.
"Look here, sir," said the detective, suddenly, "the result of
Mr. Paul Harley's investigations right up to date has been placed
in my hands, together with all his notes. I wonder if you realize
the fact that, supposing Mr. Harley does not return, I am in
repossession of sufficient evidence to justify me in putting you
under arrest?"
"I see your point quite clearly," replied Nicol Brinn. "I have
seen my danger since the evening that Mr. Paul Harley walked into
this room: but I'll confess I did not anticipate this particular
development."
"To get right down to business," said Wessex, "if Mr. Paul Harley
did not come here, where, in your idea, did he go?"
Nicol Brinn considered the speaker meditatively. "If I knew
that," said he, "maybe I could help. I told him here in this very
room that the pair of us were walking on the edge of hell. I
don't like to say it, and you don't know all it means, but in my
opinion he has taken a step too far."
Detective Inspector Wessex stood up impatiently. "You have
already talked in that strain to Mr. Harley," he said, a bit
brusquely. "Mr. Innes has reported something of the conversation
to me. But I must ask you to remember that, whereas Mr. Paul
Harley is an unofficial investigator, I am an officer of the
Criminal Investigation Department, and figures of speech are of
no use to me. I want facts. I want plain speaking. I ask you for
help and you answer in parables. Now perhaps I am saying too
much, and perhaps I am not, but that Mr. Harley was right in what
he believed, the circumstances of his present disappearance go to
prove. He learned too much about something called Fire-Tongue."
Wessex spoke the word challengingly, staring straight into the
eyes of Nicol Brinn, but the latter gave no sign, and Wessex,
concealing his disappointment, continued: "You know more about
Fire-Tongue than you ever told Mr. Paul Harley. All you know I
have got to know. Mr. Harley has been kidnapped, perhaps done to
death."
"Why do you say so?" asked Nicol Brinn, rapidly.
"Because I know it is so. It does not matter how I know."
"You are certain that his absence is not voluntary?"
"We have definite evidence to that effect."
"I don't expect you to be frank with me, Detective Inspector, but
I'll be as frank with you as I can be. I haven't the slightest
idea in the world where Mr. Harley is. But I have information
which, if I knew where he was, would quite possibly enable me to
rescue him."
"Provided he is alive!" added Wessex, angrily.
"What leads you to suppose that he is not?"
"If he is alive, he is a prisoner."
"Good God!" said Nicol Brinn in a low voice. "It has come." He
took a step toward the detective. "Mr. Wessex," he continued, "I
don't tell you to do whatever your duty indicates; I know you
will do it. But in the interests of everybody concerned I have a
request to make. Have me watched if you like--I suppose that's
automatic. But whatever happens, and wherever your suspicions
point, give me twenty-four hours. As I think you can see, I am a
man who thinks slowly, but moves with a rush. You can believe me
or not, but I am even more anxious than you are to see this thing
through. You think I know what lies back of it all, and I don't
say that you are not right. But one thing you don't know, and
that thing I can't tell you. In twenty-four hours I might be able
to tell you. Whatever happens, even if poor Harley is found dead,
don't hamper my movements between now and this time tomorrow."
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