Antique dealers -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories, English; London (England) -- Fiction
Whereupon Moris Klaw said a simple thing, which had an astounding
effect.
“How is he to-day?” he inquired.
Ryder’s face became convulsed. His eyes started forth. He made a
choking sound, staring, as one possessed, at his questioner.
“What--what--do you mean?” he gasped.
“Never mind, Mr. Ryder--never mind!” rumbled Klaw. “Isis, my child,
remain with this gentleman and tell him all we know about the ax of
‘Black Geoffrey.’ He will be glad to hear it!”
The beautiful Isis obeyed without question. As the rest of us drove on
our way, I could see the flame-coloured figure passing up the garden
path beside the tall form of the old butler. Grimsby, a man badly out
of his depth, watched until both became lost to view.
“I’ve got evidence,” he suddenly burst out, “that Ryder declared
Heidelberger to be the direct cause of Sir Richard’s downfall! And
I’ve got witnesses who heard him say, ‘Please God! the Jew won’t be
here much longer!’”
“Good!” rumbled Moris Klaw. “Very good!”
During the remainder of the journey, Grimsby talked on incessantly,
smoking cheroots the whole time. But Moris Klaw was silent.
Doctor Madden had but recently returned from his morning visits. He
was a typical country practitioner, fresh-faced and clean-shaven, with
iron-gray hair and a good head. He conveyed the impression, in some
way, that he knew himself to be in a tight corner.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he said, briskly.
“We have called, Doctor Madden,” rumbled Moris Klaw, wagging his
finger, impressively, “to tell you that Ryder is in imminent
danger--imminent danger--of arrest!”
The doctor started.
“And therefore we want a word with one of your patients!”
“I do not understand you. Which of my patients?”
Moris Klaw shook his head.
“Let us be intelligent,” he said, “you and I, and not two old fools!
You understand so perfectly which of your patients.”
Doctor Madden drummed his fingers on the table.
“Are you a detective?” he snapped.
“I am not!” replied Moris Klaw. “I am a student of the Science of
Cycles--not motor cycles; and a humble explorer of the etheric
borderland! You lay yourself open to grave charges, Doctor!”
The doctor began to fidget nervously.
“If indeed I am culpable,” he said, “my culpability only dates from
last night.”
“So!” rumbled Klaw. “He has been insensible?”
Doctor Madden started up.
“Mr. Klaw,” he replied, “I do not know who you may be, but your
penetration is uncanny. He had lost his memory!”
“What?--lost his memory! How is that?”
“He was thrown from his horse! Come; I see it is useless, now, to
waste time. I will take you to him.”
As we filed out to the waiting car, I glanced at Grimsby. His
stupefaction was almost laughable.
“What in heaven’s name is it all about, Mr. Searles?” he whispered to
me. “I feel like a man in a strange country. People talk, and it
doesn’t seem to mean anything!”
En route:
“Tell me, Doctor,” said Moris Klaw, “about your patient.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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