Читать книгу The Last Adventure and Other Stories - Edgar Wallace - Страница 13

Table of Contents

IT was a very troubled young man who walked back to Fitzroy Square, and he was so absorbed in the problem of this radiant girl that he had almost forgotten the existence of Alma Keenan, until Sergeant Lane came out of his little pantry in his shirt-sleeves, with a polishing-cloth in one hand and a silver candlestick in the other.

“The young lady came: I showed her into your room, but she didn’t wait, sir.”

“Which young lady?” demanded John, momentarily at sea.

And then it was that he remembered Alma.

“She seemed pretty upset, too,” said Sergeant Lane, with a professional interest in morbid conditions. “In fact, I’ve never seen anybody look worse than she did. Eyes all red and everything.”

What had she wanted, John wondered, as he went into his room. The first thing he saw on his open desk was a sheet of paper covered with a scrawl of handwriting.

I’m sorry I was so rotten to you. Forgive me.

There was no signature.

He heard a shuffle of slippered feet behind him and turned to meet Quio, wearing about his middle an incongruous green baize apron.

“Master, I found this on the long ladder. May I keep it, for it is so beautiful?”

In the palm of his huge hand was a crumpled lady’s handkerchief, a delicate thing of lace and cambric. John took it in his hand and shook out the folds.

“Some lady must have dropped it, Quio,” he said, and, curiously enough, he did not associate Alma Keenan with the find, “as she went down the stairs. Keep it in your room, and if it is asked for, return it.”

“It is very beautiful,” said Quio, in sober ecstasy. “Not in all my days have I seen such a wonder.”

His master, however, was less than usually in a mood for gossip, and sent the man back to the pantry, where he was assisting Sergeant Lane in his renovations. He wanted to think out this business of Alma without interruption. Frankly, he was worried, and after long consideration he decided on an action which was repugnant to him. He took up the telephone and gave the number of Lady Heverswood’s house in Hill Street. A new and a strange voice answered him.

“I am Lady Heverswood’s secretary. Can I give her ladyship a message?”

“Will you tell her ladyship that Mr. Calthorpe wishes to speak to her very urgently?” said John.

He did not have to wait so long as he expected. In a minute Lady Heverswood’s harsh voice spoke.

“Well?”

“It is John speaking, Lady Heverswood. Miss Keenan has left you, has she not?”

A pause.

“Yes. Why do you want to know? Have you a job for her?”

“I don’t think she wants a job,” said John dryly. “What I wanted to know was, did she leave in any exceptional circumstances? I mean, was she discharged?” Again a pause before the reply.

“Yes; I told her I thought that she had better find another position.”

“Was there any reason?”

“No reason that I can give, except that I wanted a change. Why?”

“I saw her in town,” said John, “and she seemed very distressed. She hasn’t”—he did not know exactly how to put the question “—she hasn’t formed any attachment at Heverswood, has she?”

“I am not interested in the love affairs of my servants,” said her ladyship coldly.

“I am not talking about your servants. I am talking about—Selwyn.”

He heard the snort of anger at the other end of the wire, and at other times would have been amused.

“I don’t understand you.”

“Well, I’ll put it as plainly as I can,” said John slowly. “Did she know that Selwyn was going to be married? What I mean to ask,” he went on desperately, “is, did Miss Keenan know that Selwyn was about to be married?”

“Of course she did!” exploded Lady Heverswood. “How dare you make so villainous a suggestion! ... She sent out the cards of invitation ... if you want to know, it was she who tore yours up after your disgraceful conduct....”

Click!

Lady Heverswood in her wrath had hung up.

“That beats the band,” said John in despair.

For the mystery of the girl’s distress was a greater mystery than ever.