Pheeney had not been there - he usually came in to
breakfast and to collect his letters. You won a hundred from me last week, he said.
He took a metal badge from his pocket, and the big man gurgled
apprehensively.
Im a lawyer - you probably know my name, though Ive
never been in a police court in my life.
He thought of thin people in terms of brittleness -
and she was supple and plastic. Must have - no, hes not a drummer - he had the best
cabin on the ship and tipped well. Get to blazes out of this, you amateur tale -
teller!
Didnt I boast once that I was related to Lord
Selford - by the way, what is he like?
Another pause, and then: What do you really
suspect?
I cant speak Portuguese either, and that made it
difficult. Half way through I said I wanted to go out, and, once outside, I
bolted.
And most earnestly I am desirous that he should not
know I sent you.
Now, Mr Martin, how does the idea appeal to you?
And that ended the conversation until the evening.
They say he can do anything with a pack of cards
except make it sing.
Yes - though I didnt know this was all I should get
from my trip. The six detectives made a minute examination of the
premises.
He is a nomad of nomads; his father in his youth
was something of the same nature. That is to say, he lives nowhere longer than two
or three days together. Ive been waitin a chance to talk to you - I dont know you,
though your face is kind of familiar. And most earnestly I am desirous that he
should not know I sent you.
I wont tell you that, said the other sullenly. The
advance guard of the confidence men smiled pleasantly as he offered his
hand.
Selford Manor is going to ruin for want of an
occupant.
It is only a mile from here; you can step over and
ask if you like. I was wondering when you were coming into the library.
Perfectly sound, perfectly sound, said Mr Havelock
impressively. Now, Lew, let me hear the truth - what was the work you were doing on
Tuesday night? Yet it might be advisable to leave the man to write his story. We
must meet in town - -At Wandsworth Gaol - or maybe Pentonville, said Dick Martin
deliberately.
Ive been thirty thousand miles rustling shadows!
What they do with themselves the rest of the time, Ive never found out.
Ive got a regular job; Im chauffeur to Mr Bertram
Cody, said Tom virtuously. You can imagine how I felt when I opened the box and
found - this key.
The big man said nothing for a moment, then: Come
outside, he said. That was the sad news I was trying to break to you, he said.
Pheeney had left the previous afternoon somewhere about five and had not returned.