Detective and mystery stories, English; Police -- Fiction; Short stories
I had just returned to the Beaulieu inn, after completing my
arrangements, when a carriage drove furiously up to the door, and who
should, to my utter astonishment, alight, but Mr. William Lloyd, and
Messrs. Smith, father and son. I hastened out, and briefly enjoining
caution and silence, begged them to step with me into a private room.
The agitation of Mr. Lloyd and of Mr. Arthur Smith was extreme, but Mr.
Smith appeared cold and impassive as ever. I soon ascertained that
Arthur Smith, by his mother's assistance, I suspect, had early
penetrated his father's schemes and secrets, and had, in consequence,
caused Mr. William Lloyd to be watched home, with whom, immediately
after I had left, he had a long conference. Later in the evening an
_éclaircissement_ with the father took place; and after a long and
stormy discussion, it was resolved that all three should the next
morning post down to Beaulieu, and act as circumstances might suggest.
My story was soon told. It was received of course with unbounded joy by
the brother and the lover; and even through the father's apparent
indifference I could perceive that his refusal to participate in the
general joy would not be of long duration. The large fortune which Mr
William Lloyd intimated his intention to bestow upon his niece was a new
and softening element in the affair.
Mr. Smith, senior, ordered his dinner; and Mr. Lloyd and Arthur
Smith--but why need I attempt to relate what _they_ did? I only know
that when, a long time afterwards, I ventured to look in at Mr. Owen
Lloyd's cottage, all the five inmates--brother, uncle, lover, niece, and
wife--were talking, laughing, weeping, smiling, like distracted
creatures, and seemed utterly incapable of reasonable discourse. An hour
after that, as I stood screened by a belt of forest-trees in wait for
Mr. Jones and company, I noticed, as they all strolled past me in the
clear moonlight, that the tears, the agitation had passed away, leaving
only smiles and grateful joy on the glad faces so lately clouded by
anxiety and sorrow. A mighty change in so brief a space!
Mr. Jones arrived with his cart and helpers in due time. A man who
sometimes assisted in the timber-yard was deputed, with an apology for
the absence of Mr. Lloyd, to deliver the goods. The boxes, full of plate
and other valuables, were soon hoisted in, and the cart moved off. I let
it proceed about a mile, and then, with the help I had placed in
readiness, easily secured the astounded burglar and his assistants; and
early the next morning Jones was on his road to London. He was tried at
the ensuing Old-Bailey sessions, convicted, and transported for life;
and the discretion I had exercised in not executing the warrant against
Owen Lloyd was decidedly approved of by the authorities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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