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Page 16
Bray grunted, and opened his little eyes. I took up the issue of
the following day--the twenty-eighth:
"RANGOON: We have been forced to sell father's stick-pin--the
emerald scarab he brought home from Cairo."
I had Bray's interest now. He leaned heavily toward me, puffing.
Greatly excited, I held before his eyes the issue of the
twenty-ninth:
"RANGOON: Homburg hat gone forever--caught by a breeze--into the
river."
"And finally," said I to the inspector, "the last message of all,
in the issue of the thirtieth of July--on sale in the streets
some twelve hours before Fraser-Freer was murdered. See!"
"RANGOON: To-night at ten. Regent Street. --Y.O.G."
Bray was silent.
"I take it you are aware, Inspector," I said, "that for the past
two years Captain Fraser-Freer was stationed at Rangoon."
Still he said nothing; just looked at me with those foxy little
eyes that I was coming to detest. At last he spoke sharply:
"Just how," he demanded, "did you happen to discover those messages?
You were not in this room last night after I left?" He turned
angrily to the constable. "I gave orders--"
"No," I put in; "I was not in this room. I happened to have on
file in my rooms copies of the Mail, and by the merest chance--"
I saw that I had blundered. Undoubtedly my discovery of those
messages was too pat. Once again suspicion looked my way.
"Thank you very much," said Bray. "I'll keep this in mind."
"Have you communicated with my friend at the consulate?" I asked.
"Yes. That's all. Good morning."
So I went.
I had been back in my room some twenty minutes when there came a
knock on the door, and Colonel Hughes entered. He was a genial man,
in the early forties I should say, tanned by some sun not English,
and gray at the temples.
"My dear sir," he said without preamble, "this is a most appalling
business!"
"Decidedly," I answered. "Will you sit down?"
"Thank you." He sat and gazed frankly into my eyes. "Policemen,"
he added meaningly, "are a most suspicious tribe--often without
reason. I am sorry you happen to be involved in this affair, for
I may say that I fancy you to be exactly what you seem. May I add
that, if you should ever need a friend, I am at your service?"
I was touched; I thanked him as best I could. His tone was so
sympathetic and before I realized it I was telling him the whole
story--of Archie and his letter; of my falling in love with a
garden; of the startling discovery that the captain had never heard
of his cousin; and of my subsequent unpleasant position. He leaned
back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"I suppose," he said, "that no man ever carries an unsealed letter
of introduction without opening it to read just what praises have
been lavished upon him. It is human nature--I have done it often.
May I make so bold as to inquire--"
"Yes," said I. "It was unsealed and I did read it. Considering
its purpose, it struck me as rather long. There were many warm
words for me--words beyond all reason in view of my brief
acquaintance with Enwright. I also recall that he mentioned how
long he had been in Interlaken, and that he said he expected to
reach London about the first of August."
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