And so, though he was intensely weary, Westerham and Rookley, together
with Dunton and Mendip, started for Madame Estelle's villa in St.
John's Wood. Repeated pulls at the bell produced no response, and so
they decided to burst open the garden gate. This they did, only to find
the house shuttered and in darkness. There was no time for scruples
and, obtaining entrance to the house, they searched the place from
ceiling to roof. There was no sign of any life.
“Limehouse!” cried Westerham. “We must try Limehouse!”
“Limehouse?” demanded Rookley. “What do you mean?”
In a few words Westerham gave Rookley the history of the crime club and
his connection with it.
“Really, Sir Paul,” grumbled Rookley, “I think we had better engage
your services at the Yard; you seem to know a good deal more about
London than we do.”
“I am afraid I do,” said Westerham, bitterly.
They started for Limehouse, but on the way Westerham came to the
conclusion that they would be too late to serve any purpose. It was
three o'clock, and by this time the place would be closed.
Nothing remained, therefore, but to return to Downing Street and seek
a few hours' rest. Westerham, fully dressed, flung himself on his bed,
but could not sleep.
At nine o'clock he went to visit the Premier in his room, and was
shocked to see how aged and white and shaky Lord Penshurst looked.
Westerham cheered him as best he could, and then, summoning Rookley,
set out to look for Bagley, the smug banker of Herne Hill.
They brought Bagley a prisoner back to Downing Street, but in spite of
every inducement and every threat, he declared that he knew nothing
whatsoever of the whereabouts of Melun.
Half maddened with terror as to Kathleen's fate, Westerham next turned
his search in the direction of the gaming house. But Melun had covered
his tracks well. The house was as silent and devoid of any clue as had
been the villa in St. John's Wood. There was nothing to do but wait
till night and perfect the arrangements for the raid on Limehouse.
The arrangements which Rookley made were complete, and worked smoothly.
So overwhelming was the force of constables that surrounded the house
that resistance on the part of the members of the crime club was
rendered quite impossible.
In the little room in the front of the house Westerham established a
species of impromptu police-court. One by one the members of the club
were brought in to him, and one by one they satisfied him that they had
no knowledge of Melun's whereabouts.
Still, Westerham had them safely kept under lock and key. It was
noon when this curious inquisition was over, and then he immediately
returned to Downing Street and sought the Premier's room.
As Westerham entered he looked up with a smile which he fondly
imagined was cheerful. His words were gloomy enough, and to Westerham
seemed to have a certain amount of reproach in them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account