The Ashiel mystery : $b a detective storyBryce, Marion
General
The Ashiel mystery : $b a detective story
Bryce, Marion
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
And for one wild moment he was on the point of accosting her and
demanding his missing letter. Wiser counsels prevailed, however, and he
moved away to the other side of the small group of mourners gathered on
the stony beach.
When he ventured to look at her again, it was over the shoulder of a
stalwart Highlander, whose large frame effectually concealed all of the
little detective except his hat and eyes. A further surprise was in store
for him. The lady had lifted her veil and displayed the features of the
girl he had watched in the library on the preceding night.
Gimblet had seen enough. He turned away, and found Juliet at his elbow.
She would have passed him by, absorbed in her sorrow for the father she
had found and lost in the space of one short hour, but he laid her hand
upon her arm.
"Tell me," he begged, "who are those two ladies waiting for the boat?"
Juliet's eyes followed the direction of his own.
"Those," she said, "are Mrs. Clutsam and Miss Julia Romaninov."
"Ah," Gimblet murmured. "They were among your fellow-guests at the
castle, weren't they?"
"Yes."
Juliet's reply was short and a little cold. She could not understand why
the detective should choose this moment to question her on trivial
details. It showed, she considered, a lamentable lack of tact, and
involuntarily she resented it.
"But surely you told me that every one had left Inverashiel," persisted
Gimblet, unabashed.
He seemed absurdly eager for the information. No doubt, Juliet reflected
bitterly, he admired Julia. Most men would.
"Mrs. Clutsam lives in another small house of my father's, near here,"
she replied stiffly. "She asked Miss Romaninov to stay with her for a
few days till she could arrange where to go to. This disaster naturally
upset every one's plans."
"She has a beautiful face," said Gimblet. "Who would think--" he
murmured, and stopped abruptly.
"Perhaps you would like me to introduce you?"
Juliet spoke with lofty indifference, but the dismay in Gimblet's tone as
he answered disarmed her.
"On no account," he cried, "the last thing! Besides, for that matter," he
added truthfully, "we have met before."
"Then you will have the pleasure of renewing your acquaintance," Juliet
suggested mischievously. Gimblet had shown himself so genuinely aghast
that her resentful suspicions had vanished.
"I expect to have an opportunity of doing so," he agreed seriously. "That
young lady," he went on in a low, confidential tone, "played a trick on
me that I find it hard to forgive. I look forward, with some
satisfaction, to the day when the laugh will be on my side. I admit I
ought to be above such paltry considerations, but, what would you? I
don't think I am. But please don't mention my presence to her, or her
friend. I imagine she has not so far heard of it."
"I won't if you don't like," said Juliet. "I don't suppose I shall
see them to speak to. But why do you feel so sure she doesn't know
you are here?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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