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J. S. FLETCHER
J. S. FLETCHER
"We always feel as though we were really spreading happiness when we can announce a genuinely satisfactory mystery story, such as J. B. Fletcher's new one." —N. P. D. in the New York Globe. THE MIDDLE TEMPLE MURDER [1918] "Unquestionably, the detective story of the season and, therefore, one which no lover of detective fiction should miss."— The Broadside. THE TALLEYRAND MAXIM [1920] "A crackerjack mystery tale; the story of Linford Pratt, who earnestly desired to get on in life, by hook or by c
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CHAPTER I THE MISSING BANK MANAGER
CHAPTER I THE MISSING BANK MANAGER
Every Monday morning, when the clock of the old parish church in Scarnham Market-Place struck eight, Wallington Neale asked himself why on earth he had chosen to be a bank clerk. On all the other mornings of the week this question never occurred to him: on Sunday he never allowed a thought of the bank to cross his mind: from Sunday to Saturday he was firmly settled in the usual rut, and never dreamed of tearing himself out of it. But Sunday's break was unsettling: there was always an effort in s
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CHAPTER II THE ELLERSDEANE DEPOSIT
CHAPTER II THE ELLERSDEANE DEPOSIT
Had the three young men waiting in that hall not been so familiar with him by reason of daily and hourly acquaintance, the least observant amongst them would surely have paused in whatever task he was busied with, if Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke had crossed his path for the first time. The senior partner of Chestermarke's Bank was a noticeable person. Wallington Neale, who possessed some small gift of imagination, always felt that his principal suggested something more than was accounted for by his
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CHAPTER III MR. CHESTERMARKE DISCLAIMS LIABILITY
CHAPTER III MR. CHESTERMARKE DISCLAIMS LIABILITY
Gabriel Chestermarke, after that one look at his nephew, turned again to the Earl, politely motioning him to the chair which he had already drawn forward. And the Earl, whose eyes had been wandering over the pile of documents on the senior partner's desk, glancing curiously at the open door of the strong room, and generally taking in a sense of some unusual occurrence, dropped into it and looked expectantly at the banker. "There's nothing wrong?" he asked suddenly. "You look—surprised." Gabriel
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CHAPTER IV THE MODERN YOUNG WOMAN
CHAPTER IV THE MODERN YOUNG WOMAN
Mrs. Carswell, who had left the gentlemen to themselves after opening the plate-chest, followed the new-comer into the room and looked appealingly at the senior partner. "This is Miss Fosdyke, sir," she said, as if accounting for the unceremonious entrance. "Mr. Horbury's——" But Miss Fosdyke, having looked round her, entered the arena of discussion as abruptly as she had entered the room. "You're Mr. Chestermarke!" she said, turning to Gabriel. "I remember you. What's all this, Mr. Chestermarke?
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CHAPTER V THE SEARCH BEGINS
CHAPTER V THE SEARCH BEGINS
Polke, superintendent of the Scarnham police force, a little, round, cheery-faced man, whose mutton-chop whiskers suggested much business-like capacity and an equal amount of common sense, rose from his desk and bowed as the Earl of Ellersdeane entered his office. "I know what your lordship's come for!" he said, with a twinkle of the eye which betokened infinite comprehension. "The young lady's been here." "And has no doubt told you everything?" remarked the Earl, as he dropped into the chair wh
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CHAPTER VI ELLERSDEANE HOLLOW
CHAPTER VI ELLERSDEANE HOLLOW
Neale dropped into a chair and lifted a despairing countenance to his downright questioner. "I don't know!" he said. "I know—nothing!" "That is—beyond what I've already been told?" suggested the girl. "Beyond what you've been told—exactly," replied Neale. "I'm literally bewildered. I've been going about all day as if—as if I were dreaming, or having a nightmare, or—something. I don't understand it at all. I saw Mr. Horbury, of course, on Saturday—he was all right when I left him at the bank. He
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CHAPTER VII THE TRAVELLING TINKER
CHAPTER VII THE TRAVELLING TINKER
Neale's eye caught the gleam of silver braid on the clothing of one of the two men, and he hastened his steps a little as he and Betty emerged on the level ground at the top of the steep path. "That's a policeman," he said. "It'll be the constable from Ellersdeane. The other man looks like a gamekeeper. Let's see if they've heard anything." The two figures turned at the sound of footsteps, and came slowly in Neale's direction. Both recognized him and touched their hats. "I suppose you're looking
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CHAPTER VIII THE SATURDAY NIGHT STRANGER
CHAPTER VIII THE SATURDAY NIGHT STRANGER
Neale, who had never seen a real, live detective in the flesh, but who cherished something of a passion for reading sensational fiction and the reports of criminal cases in the weekly newspapers, looked at the man from New Scotland Yard with a feeling of surprise. He knew Detective-Sergeant Starmidge well enough by name and reputation. He was the man who had unravelled the mysteries of the Primrose Hill murder—a particularly exciting and underground affair. It was he who had been intimately asso
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CHAPTER IX NO FURTHER INFORMATION
CHAPTER IX NO FURTHER INFORMATION
Chestermarke's clerks found no difficulty in obtaining access to the bank when they presented themselves at its doors at nine o'clock next morning. Both partners were already there, and appeared to have been there for some time. And Joseph at once called Neale into the private parlour, and drew his attention to a large poster which lay on a side-table, its ink still wet from the printing press. "Let Patten put that up in one of the front windows, Neale," he said. "It's just come in—I gave the co
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CHAPTER X THE CHESTERMARKE WAY
CHAPTER X THE CHESTERMARKE WAY
Mrs. Carswell herself opened the door of the bank-house in response to Miss Fosdyke's ring. She started a little at sight of the visitor, and her eyes glanced involuntarily and, as it seemed to Betty, with something of uneasiness, at the side-door which led into the Chestermarkes' private parlour. And Betty immediately interpreted the meaning of that glance. "No, Mrs. Carswell," she said, before the housekeeper could speak, "I haven't come to call on either Mr. Gabriel or Mr. Joseph Chestermarke
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CHAPTER XI THE SEARCH-WARRANT
CHAPTER XI THE SEARCH-WARRANT
As they turned out of the Market-Place into the street leading to the police-station, Lord Ellersdeane and his companions became aware of a curious figure which was slowly preceding them—that of a very old man whose massive head and long white hair, falling in thick shocks about his neck, was innocent of covering, whose tall, erect form was closely wrapped about in a great, many-caped horseman's cloak which looked as if it had descended to him from some early Georgian ancestor. In one hand he ca
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CHAPTER XII THE FIRST FIND
CHAPTER XII THE FIRST FIND
Polke took a step or two on the pavement outside the bank, meditating on this latest development of a matter that was hourly growing in mystery. Why had this woman suddenly disappeared? Had she merely gone to Ecclesborough for the day?—or had she made it her first stage in a further journey? Why had she taken a taxi-cab for an eighteen-miles' ride, at considerable expense, when, at twelve o'clock, she could have got a train which would have carried her to Ecclesborough for fifteen pence? It seem
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Chapter XIII THE PARTNERS UNBEND
Chapter XIII THE PARTNERS UNBEND
The Earl took the empty casket from the detective's hand and looked at it, inside and outside, with doubt and wonder. "Now what do you take this to mean?" he asked. "That we've got three people to find, instead of two, my lord," answered Starmidge promptly. "We must be after the housekeeper." "You found this in her room?" asked Polke. "So—you went up there?" "As soon as you'd left me," replied the detective, with a shrewd smile. "Of course! I wanted to have a look round. I didn't forget the chim
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CHAPTER XIV THE MIDNIGHT SUMMONS
CHAPTER XIV THE MIDNIGHT SUMMONS
The search-party separated outside the bank, not too well satisfied with the result of its labours. The old antiquary walked away obviously nettled that he was not allowed to pursue his investigations further; Betty Fosdyke and the solicitor went across to the hotel in deep conference; the Earl accompanied Starmidge and Polke to the police-station. And there the detective laid down a firm outline of the next immediate procedure. It was of no use to half-do things, he said—they must rouse wholesa
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CHAPTER XV MR. FREDERICK HOLLIS
CHAPTER XV MR. FREDERICK HOLLIS
Starmidge hastily pulled some garments about him, and flinging a travelling-coat over his shoulders, hurried downstairs, to find a sleepy-looking policeman in the hall. "How did this man get here—at this time of night?" he asked, as they set off towards the police-station. "Came in a taxi-cab from Ecclesborough," answered the policeman. "I haven't heard any particulars, Mr. Starmidge, except that he'd read the news in the London paper this evening and set off here in consequence. He's in Mr. Pol
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CHAPTER XVI THE LEAD MINE
CHAPTER XVI THE LEAD MINE
Starmidge and Polke presently left—to walk down to the railway station with the bewildered clerk; when they had gone, Betty turned to Neale, who was hanging about her sitting-room with no obvious intention of leaving it. "While these people are doing what they can in their way, is there nothing we can do in ours?" she asked. "I hate sitting here doing nothing at all! You're a free man now, Wallie—can't you suggest something?" Neale was thoroughly enjoying his first taste of liberty. He felt as i
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CHAPTER XVII ACCIDENT OR MURDER?
CHAPTER XVII ACCIDENT OR MURDER?
Betty checked the cry of horror which instinctively started to her lips, and turned to Neale with a look which he was quick to interpret. He moved nearer to the tinker, who was unwinding the rope from his waist. "You couldn't tell—what man?" he asked, in low tones. Creasy shook his head with a look of dislike for what he had seen by the light of his lantern. "No!" he answered. "'Twasn't possible, mister. But—a man there is! And dead, naturally. And—a long way it is, too, down to the bottom of th
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CHAPTER XVIII THE INCOMPLETE CHEQUE
CHAPTER XVIII THE INCOMPLETE CHEQUE
Neale, startled and amazed by this sudden outburst on the part of a man whom up to that time he had taken to be unusually cool-headed and phlegmatic, did not immediately answer. He was watching the Ellersdeane constable, who was running after Gabriel Chestermarke's rapidly retreating figure. He saw Gabriel stop, listen to an evident question, and then lift his hand and point to various features of the Hollow. The policeman touched his helmet, and came back to Polke. "Mr. Chestermarke, sir, says
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CHAPTER XIX THE DEAD MAN'S BROTHER
CHAPTER XIX THE DEAD MAN'S BROTHER
Polke hastily followed the policeman from the room—to return immediately with a quiet-looking elderly gentleman in whom Neale and Starmidge saw a distinct likeness to the dead man. "His brother!" whispered Polke, as he handed a chair to the visitor. "So you've seen about this in the newspapers, sir?" he went on, turning to Mr. Leonard Hollis. "And you thought you'd better come over, I suppose?" "I have not only read about it in the newspapers," answered the visitor, "but I last night—very late—r
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CHAPTER XX THE OTHER CHEQUE
CHAPTER XX THE OTHER CHEQUE
Starmidge sent off his telegram when the train stopped at Nottingham, and thereafter went to sleep, secure in the knowledge that it would be promptly acted upon by its recipients. And when, soon after eleven o'clock, the express ran into St. Pancras, he paid no particular attention to Gabriel Chestermarke. He had no desire, indeed, that the banker should see him, and he hung back when the crowded carriages cleared, and the platform became a scene of bustle and animation. But he had no difficulty
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CHAPTER XXI ABOUT CENT PER CENT.
CHAPTER XXI ABOUT CENT PER CENT.
Starmidge, lingering a moment on the steps of the bank to consider whether he would go straight to Chesham or repair to headquarters for a consultation with his superior, was suddenly joined by the manager who had just given him his information. "You are going down to Lowdale Court?" asked the manager. "During the morning—yes," answered Starmidge. "If it will be any help to you," said the manager, "I'll ring up Mrs. Lester on the telephone, and let her know you're coming. She's rather a nervous
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CHAPTER XXII SPECULATION—AND CERTAINTY
CHAPTER XXII SPECULATION—AND CERTAINTY
Starmidge ate and drank in silence for awhile, evidently pondering his companion's question. "Yes," he said at last, "there's all that in it. It may be any one of the three. You never know! Yet, according to all I've been told, Horbury's a thoroughly straight man of business." "According to all I've been told," remarked Easleby, "and all I've been told about anything has been told by yourself, the two Chestermarkes have the reputation of being thoroughly straight men of business—outwardly. But o
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CHAPTER XXIII THE AGGRIEVED VICTIM
CHAPTER XXIII THE AGGRIEVED VICTIM
If Mr. Leopold Castlemayne's last word was expressive, his next actions were suggestive and significant. Returning to the door of the inner room, he turned the key in it; crossing to the door by which the detectives had been shown in, he locked that also; proceeding to a cupboard in an adjacent recess, he performed an unlocking process—after which he produced a decanter, a syphon, three glasses, and a box of cigars. He silently placed these luxuries on a desk before his visitors, and hospitably
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CHAPTER XXIV MRS. CARSWELL?
CHAPTER XXIV MRS. CARSWELL?
Starmidge looked at his companion as if in doubt about Easleby's exact meaning. "According to what the theatre chap said just now," he remarked, "Markham is very rarely to be found in Conduit Street." "Exactly," agreed Easleby. "That's why I want to go there." Starmidge shook his head. "Don't follow!" he said. "Make it clear." Easleby tapped his fellow-detective's arm. "You said just now—would Gabriel Chestermarke be so keen about keeping his secret as to go to any length in keeping it," he answ
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CHAPTER XXV THE PORTRAIT
CHAPTER XXV THE PORTRAIT
The offices of Mr. Godwin Markham, at which the two detectives presented themselves soon after half-past ten next morning, were by no means extensive in size or palatial in appearance. They were situated in the second floor of a building in Conduit Street, and apparently consisted of no more than two rooms, which, if not exactly shabby, were somewhat well-worn as to furniture and fittings. It was evident, too, that Mr. Godwin Markham's clerical staff was not extensive. There was a young man cler
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CHAPTER XXVI THE LIGHTNING FLASH
CHAPTER XXVI THE LIGHTNING FLASH
At half-past seven that evening Starmidge and Easleby stepped out of a London express at Ecclesborough, and walked out to the front of the station to get a taxi-cab for Scarnham. The newsboys were rushing across the station square with the latest editions of the evening papers, and Starmidge's quick ear caught the meaning of their unfamiliar North-country shoutings. "Latest about the Scarnham mystery," he said, stopping a lad and taking a couple of papers from him. "Something about the adjourned
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CHAPTER XXVII THE OLD DOVE-COT
CHAPTER XXVII THE OLD DOVE-COT
On the previous evening, Wallington Neale, who had spent most of the day with Betty Fosdyke, endeavouring to gain some further light on the disappearance of her uncle, had left her at eight o'clock in order to keep a business appointment. He was honourary treasurer of the Scarnham Cricket Club: the weekly meeting of the committee of which important institution was due that night at the Hope and Anchor Inn, an old tavern in the Cornmarket. Thither Neale repaired, promising to rejoin Betty at nine
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CHAPTER XXVIII SOUND-PROOF
CHAPTER XXVIII SOUND-PROOF
It needed no more than a moment's reflection to prove to Neale that he had made a serious mistake in obeying that first impulse. Joseph Chestermarke had gone away—probably for the night. And there had been something in the metallic clang of that closing door, something in the sure and certain fashion in which it had closed into its frame, something in the utter silence which had followed the sudden extinction of the light, which made the captive feel that he might beat upon door or wall as hard
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CHAPTER XXIX THE SPARROWS AND THE SPHERE
CHAPTER XXIX THE SPARROWS AND THE SPHERE
Neale was instantly awake and on the alert. He sprang to his feet, shivering a little in spite of the rugs which he had wrapped about him before settling down. A slight current of cold air struck him as he rose—looking in the direction from which it seemed to come, he saw that one of the circular windows in the high wall above him was open, and that a fresh north-east wind was blowing the curtain aside. The laboratory, hot and close enough when he had entered it the previous evening, was now coo
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CHAPTER XXX WRECKAGE
CHAPTER XXX WRECKAGE
The four people standing beneath the portico of the police-station remained as if spell-bound for a full moment after the sudden flash and the sudden roar. Betty Fosdyke unconsciously clutched at Lord Ellersdeane's arm: Lord Ellersdeane spoke, wonderingly. "Thunder?" he exclaimed. "Strange!" Easleby turned sharply from Starmidge, who, holding by one of the pillars, was staring towards the quarter of the Market-Place, from whence the scream of dire fear had come. "That's no thunder, my lord!" he
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CHAPTER XXXI THE PRISONER SPEAKS
CHAPTER XXXI THE PRISONER SPEAKS
It was not until a week later that Neale, with a bandaged head and one arm in a sling, and Betty Fosdyke, inexpressibly thankful that the recent terrible catastrophe had at any rate brought relief in its train, were allowed to visit Horbury for their first interview of more than a few minutes' duration. Neale had made a quick recovery; beyond the fracture of a small bone in his arm, some cuts on his head, and a general shock to his system, he was little the worse for his experience. But the elde
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