Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
“And we’ve got no further with the Page clue than when we first
started,” reflected Fayre ruefully.
The clerk Grey had sent to collect evidence as to the car which had
been held up at York had reported a complete failure. Except for the
first letter and number the car had entirely failed to answer to the
description of the Page car. It was a two-seater, the number-plate had
been intact and there was no sign of any damage to either of the
guards, and they had had to face the fact that they had been following
yet another blind alley.
In addition to his other anxieties, Fayre was troubled about Cynthia.
The girl had faced things nobly, but already she was beginning to show
signs of strain and Fayre dreaded the coming ordeal for her. Her
mother had written to her peremptorily ordering her to go home.
Cynthia, lost to everything but Leslie’s danger, had taken no notice
of her mother’s letter. Fortunately, her father’s sister, with whom
she was staying, had proved more humane and had merely stipulated that
the girl should stay in her house until the trial was over, realizing
that she was not in a state to brook opposition. She welcomed Fayre’s
visits and, at her suggestion, he persuaded Cynthia to motor with him
out into the country for a few hours every day.
A few days after Sybil Kean had been declared out of danger Grey rang
him up suggesting that they should meet for lunch.
“I’ve heard from Sir Edward,” he said as soon as he saw Fayre. “I’m to
meet him this afternoon and he would like to see Lady Cynthia. Could
you bring her round to his Chambers at about four o’clock? I gather
Lady Kean really has turned the corner, so luck may be with us, after
all.”
Before sitting down to lunch Fayre rang up Cynthia and arranged to
call for her. Grey followed him into the telephone-box.
“Tell her I’ve seen Mr. Leslie and he’s in fine form. If he can keep
his pluck up till next month he ought to make a good impression.”
“How did you really find Leslie?” asked Fayre as they sat down.
“Just as I said. He’s a plucky young beggar. I think he’s more worried
about her than about himself. Wanted to know how she was looking, and
all that sort of thing. Said it wasn’t only the war that came hardest
on the women. They’re a fine couple.”
Fayre nodded absently. He was feeling horribly depressed and wished
with all his heart that the whole wretched business were over.
“I don’t suppose Sir Edward’s in a laughing mood, but, if he were,
he’d get a certain sardonic amusement out of the Page episode,” went
on Grey. “My man came back from the North yesterday. He’s been kept up
there on some other business till now. He told me a funny thing.”
“About the car that was held up?” asked Fayre rather wearily. He found
it difficult to see anything amusing in connection with the Draycott
murder.
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