|
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 29
Millicent Fayre-Michell also remembered it.
"Mr. Hardcastle declined to let his photograph be published in the
halfpenny papers, I remember," she said. "That struck me as so
wonderful. There was a reason given--that he did not wish the
public to know him by sight. I believe he is never seen as himself,
and that he makes up just as easily to look like a woman as a man."
"Some people believe he is a woman."
"No! You don't say that?"
"To have made up as that German's friend and so actually reached
his presence--nay, secured him! It is certainly one of the most
remarkable pages in the annals of crime," said Ernest Travers.
"Is he attached to Scotland Yard still, or does he work
independently?" asked Miles Handford.
"I don't know yet. Mannering has already urged me to consult
Scotland Yard at once. Indeed, he was going to approach them
to-day. Mr. Hardcastle shall certainly be invited to do what he
can. I shall leave no stone unturned to reach the truth. Yet what
even such a man can do is difficult to see. The walls of the Grey
Room are solid, the floor is of sound oak, the ceiling is nine
or ten inches thick, and supported by immense beams. The hearth
is modern, and the chimney not large enough to admit a human being.
This was proved twelve years ago."
"Give him a free hand all the same--with servants and everybody.
I should ask him to come as your guest, then nobody need know who
he is, and he can pursue his investigations the more freely."
Felix Fayre-Michell made this suggestion after luncheon was ended,
and Masters and Fred Caunter had left the room. Then the
conversation showed signs of drifting back to sentimentality. Sir
Walter saw it coming in their eyes, and sought to head them off by
inquiring concerning their own movements.
"Can I be of any service to simplify your plans? I fear this
terrible event has put you all to great inconvenience."
"Our inconvenience is nothing beside your sorrow, dear Walter,"
said Nelly Travers.
All declared that if they could serve the cause in any way they
would gladly stop at Chadlands, but since they were powerless to
assist, they felt that the sooner they departed the better.
"We go, but we leave our undying sympathy and commiseration, dear
friend," declared Mr. Travers. "Believe me, this has aged my wife
and myself. Probably it would not be an exaggeration to say it
has aged us all. That he should have come through Jutland, done
worthy deeds, won honorable mention and the D. S. O., then to be
snatched out of life in this incomprehensible manner--nay,
perhaps even by supernatural means, for we cannot yet actually
declare it is not so. All this makes it impossible to say much
that can comfort you or dear Mary. Time must pass I fear, Walter.
You must get her away into another environment. Thank Heaven she
has youth on her side."
"Yes, yes, I shall live for her, be sure of that." He left them and
presently spoke to his nephew alone in his study.
"Do what you can for them. Handford and Vane are getting off this
afternoon, the rest early to-morrow. I don't think I shall be able
to dine with them to-night. Tom's father will be here. I fear he
is likely to be prostrated when he knows that all is over."
"No, he's not that kind of man, uncle. Mary tells me he will want
to get to the bottom of this in his own way. He's one of the
fighting sort, but he believes in a lot of queer things. I'm going
in to Newton with Colonel Vane, and shall meet Mannering there
about--about Sir Howard Fellowes. He'll come down to-morrow, no
doubt, perhaps to-night. Mannering will know."
"And tell Mannering to insist on a detective called Peter
Hardcastle for the inquiry. If he's left Scotland Yard and acting
independently, none the less engage him. I shall, of course,
thankfully pay anything to get this tragedy explained."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|