The Herapath PropertyFletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
General
The Herapath Property
Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
Detective and mystery stories
"Well, I hardly know," he said at last. "Of course, I have rarely seen
much of Jacob's secretaries. This man--he's not quite a youngster,
Halfpenny--struck me as being the sort of person who might be dangerous."
"Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Halfpenny. "Dangerous! God bless me! Now, in what
way, Tertius?"
"I don't quite know," replied Mr. Tertius. "He, somehow, from what I saw
of him, suggested, I really don't know how, a certain atmosphere of,
say--I'm trying to find the right words--cunning, subtlety, depth.
Yes--yes, I should say he was what we commonly call--or what is commonly
called in vulgar parlance--deep. Deep!"
"You mean--designing?" suggested Mr. Halfpenny.
"Exactly--designing," assented Mr. Tertius. "It--it was the sort of idea
he conveyed, you know."
"Don't like the sound of him," said Mr. Halfpenny, "However, he's the
second witness and we must put up with the fact. And here we are at
these Calengrove Mansions, and let's hope we haven't a hundred infernal
steps to climb, and that we find the fellow in."
The fellow was in. And the fellow, who had now discarded his mourning
suit for the purple and fine linen which suggested Bond Street, was just
about to go out, and was in a great hurry, and said so. He listened with
obvious impatience while Mr. Tertius presented his companion.
"I wished to see you about the will of the deceased Jacob Herapath, Mr.
Burchill," said Mr. Halfpenny "The will which, of course, you witnessed."
Burchill, who was gathering some books and papers together, and had
already apologized for not being able to ask his callers to sit down,
answered in an off-hand, bustling fashion.
"Of course, of course!" he replied. "Mr. Jacob Herapath's will, eh? Oh,
of course, yes. Anything I can do, Mr. Halfpenny, of course--perhaps
you'll drop me a line and make an appointment at your office some
day--then I'll call, d'you see?"
"You remember the occasion, and the will, and your signature?" said Mr.
Halfpenny, contriving to give Mr. Tertius a nudge as he put this direct
question.
"Oh, I remember everything that ever happened in connection with my
secretaryship to Mr. Jacob Herapath!" replied Burchill, still bustling.
"I shall be ready for anything whenever I'm wanted, Mr. Halfpenny--pleased
to be of service to the family, I'm sure. Now, you must really pardon
me, gentlemen, if I hurry you and myself out--I've a most important
engagement and I'm late already. As I said--drop me a line for an
appointment, Mr. Halfpenny, and I'll come to you. Now, good-bye,
good-bye!"
He had got them out of his flat, shaken hands with them, and hurried
off before either elderly gentleman could get a word in, and as he flew
towards the stairs Mr. Halfpenny looked at Mr. Tertius and shook his head.
"That beggar didn't want to talk," he said. "I don't like it."
"But he said that he remembered!" exclaimed Mr. Tertius. "Wasn't that
satisfactory?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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