Mysterious Mr. SabinOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
Mysterious Mr. Sabin
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
He stood quite still and watched it. The roads were heavy after much
rain, and the mud was leaping up into the sunshine from the flying
wheels, bespattering the carriage, and reaching even the man who sat
upon the box. The horses had broken into a gallop, the driver was
leaning forward whip in hand. He knew at once whose carriage it was: it
was the little brougham which Mr. Sabin had brought down from London. He
had been up to the hall, then! Wolfenden's face grew stern. He stood
well out in the middle of the road. The horses would have to be checked
a little at the sharp turn before him. They would probably shy a little,
seeing him stand there in the centre of the road; he would be able to
bring them to a standstill. So he remained there motionless. Nearer and
nearer they came. Wolfenden set his teeth hard and forgot his
dizziness.
They were almost upon him now. To his surprise the driver was making no
effort to check his galloping horses. It seemed impossible that they
could round that narrow corner at the pace they were going. A froth of
white foam was on their bits, and their eyes were bloodshot. They were
almost upon Wolfenden before he realised what was happening. They
made no attempt to turn the corner which he was guarding, but flashed
straight past him along the Cromer road. Wolfenden shouted and waved his
arms, but the coachman did not even glance in his direction. He caught
a glimpse of Mr. Sabin's face as he leaned back amongst the cushions,
dark, satyr-like, forbidding. The thin lips seemed to part into a
triumphant smile as he saw Wolfenden standing there. It was all over in
a moment. The carriage, with its whirling wheels, was already a speck in
the distance.
Wolfenden looked at his watch. It was five-and-twenty minutes to one.
Mr. Sabin's purpose was obvious. He was trying to catch the one o'clock
express to London. To pursue that carriage was absolutely hopeless.
Wolfenden set his face towards Deringham Hall and ran steadily along the
road. He was filled with vague fears. The memory of Mr. Sabin's smile
haunted him. He had succeeded. By what means? Perhaps by violence!
Wolfenden forgot his own aching head. He was filled only with an intense
anxiety to reach his destination. If Mr. Sabin had so much as raised his
hand, he should pay for it. He understood now why that blow had been
given. It was to keep him out of the way. As he ran on, his teeth
clenched, and his breath coming fast, he grew hot with passionate anger.
He had been Mr. Sabin's dupe! Curse the man.
He turned the final corner in the drive, climbed the steps and entered
the hall. The servants were standing about as usual. There was no sign
of anything having happened. They looked at him curiously, but that
might well be, owing to his dishevelled condition.
"Where is the Admiral, Groves?" he asked breathlessly.
"His lordship is in the billiard-room," the man answered.
Wolfenden stopped short in his passage across the hall, and looked at
the man in amazement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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