Читать книгу The Complete Detective Sgt. Elk Series (6 Novels in One Edition) - Edgar Wallace - Страница 24

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It was half-past nine when T.B. sent and received the last message; and an hour later he had interviewed the Commissioner.

“Get your lady away all right?” his chief greeted him.

“Well away, sir,” said T.B. serenely. “Out of reach of Poltavo — his agents were watching the flat — there was a burglary there the very night the book arrived.”

“And the lady?”

“She is due in Jamaica in a few days.”

“And now—”

T.B. told the story of the developments. The Commissioner nodded from time to time.

“You’re an ingenious young man,” he said.

“One of these fine days somebody will badly want your blood.”

“It has often happened,” T.B. granted. He sat over a companionable cigar and a whisky and soda, talking until the hands of the clock were near on midnight; then he rose to take his leave.

“You will leave for Spain tomorrow?” asked the chief.

“Yes; by the first train. I shall take Van Ingen, with me; he speaks Spanish with ease, while I can only blunder through with a phrase or two. I can get the warrants from the Yard before I leave,” he continued, “and the Spanish authorities will give me all the help I need.”

“And what of Poltavo?” asked the Chief Commissioner.

T.B. shrugged his shoulders.

“We had a murderer there,” he said. “I am satisfied that he killed Moss. Whether he actually stabbed Hyatt, I am not sure. The man had such a perfect organisation in London that it is possible that one of his cutthroat friends served him in the case of that unfortunate young man. Count Poltavo can wait. If we get the others, we shall get him. He has powerful friends; we must move with caution.

“Goodnight, sir.”

He grasped the proffered hand, and his host ushered him into the silent street.

He took two steps forward, when a man rose apparently from the ground, and two shots rang out. T.B. had drawn his revolver and fired from his hip, and his assailant staggered back cursing as a dark shadow came running from the opposite side of the road to his help.

Then T.B. swayed, his knees bent under him, and he fell back into the Commissioner’s arms.

“I’m done,” he said, and the third man, hesitating a moment in the roadway, heard the words and slipped his revolver back into his pocket and fled.