The Duke of York’s Steps by Henry Wade Copyright, 1929, by Henry Wade published by Payson & Clarke Ltd (New York) CONTENTS I. The Two Bankers II. At Queen Anne’s Gate III. The Victory Finance Company IV. The Expected Happens V. Sir Leward Marradine Takes Interest VI. Inspector John Poole VII. Significant Information VIII. Ryland Fratten IX. Silence X. The Inquest XI. The Intervention of Inez XII. “Breath of Eden” XIII. Eye-Witnesses XIV. Sir Garth’s Papers XV. “Eau D’Enfer” XVI. Reconstruction XVII. This Way and That XVIII. The Method XIX. The Ethiopian and General Development Company XX. The Rotunda Mine XXI. General Meets General XXII. Miss Saverel XXIII. The Hotel “Antwerp” XXIV. Alibi XXV. Justice XXVI. . . . May Be Blind CHAPTER I The Two Bankers “A glass of the Dow for Mr. Hessel, please, Rogers, and I’ll have brown sherry.” The wine waiter retired to execute the order and Sir Garth Fratten turned to his guest. “Too much vintage port last night, I’m afraid, Leo. Old Grendonian dinner. ‘Hair of the dog that bit you’ may be all right with champagne, but port—no.” His companion laughed. “I should have thought you were too old a Grendonian to fall into that trap,” he said. “Where was it? The Grandleigh? They generally give you pretty good stuff there. I hate those functions myself—not that there are any Old-Boy dinners of the school I went to.” There was a trace of bitterness in Hessel’s voice, but his companion ignored it. “I don’t like them myself,” he said. “I haven’t been to one for years, but this was a ter-centenary affair and I rather had to go. The wine was all right—it was the speeches that were the trouble—they kept at it till nearly eleven. I got mine over early—and shortly—but some of them took the opportunity to let off steam. Pretty indifferent steam most of it was, too. One has to drink something—toasts and general boredom. I couldn’t drink the brandy—1812 on the bottle and 1912 inside it—the usual Napoleon ramp. But the Cockburn was genuine stuff—’96. Must have got outside the best part of a bottle—not wise in these soft days. Have some coffee, old man. Shall we have it here? The guests’ smoking-room is sure to be packed now, and it’s after two—we can smoke in here.”