The Lighted WayOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
The Lighted Way
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories
"When the time comes," Mr. Jarvis said, "don't you go poking about
in any foreign islands or places. If only the governor had left
those smelly European cheeses to take care of themselves, he'd be
sitting here in his chair at this moment, smoking a cigar and
handing me out the orders. You and I are, so to speak, in a
confidential position now, Chetwode, and I am able to say things to
you about which I might have hesitated before. Do you know how much
the governor has spent during the last year?"
"No idea," Arnold replied. "Does it matter?"
"He has spent," Mr. Jarvis announced, solemnly, "close upon ten
thousand pounds."
"It sounds like a good deal," Arnold admitted, "but I expect he had
saved it."
"Of course he had saved it," Mr. Jarvis admitted; "but what has that
to do with it? One doesn't save money for the pleasure of spending
it. Never since my connection with the firm has Mr. Weatherley
attempted to spend anything like one half of his income."
"Then I should think it was quite time he began," Arnold declared.
"You are not going to suggest, I suppose, that financial
embarrassments had anything to do with Mr. Weatherley's
disappearance?"
Mr. Jarvis started. To him the suggestion sounded sacrilegious.
"My dear Chetwode," he said, "you must indeed be ignorant of the
resources of the firm when you make such a suggestion! I simply
wished to point out that after his marriage Mr. Weatherley
completely changed all his habits. It is not well for a man of his
age to change his habits.... God bless my soul, here is an
automobile stopping outside. If it should be Mr. Weatherley come
back!"
They both hurried eagerly to the window. The automobile, however,
which had drawn up outside, was larger and more luxurious than Mr.
Weatherley's. Count Sabatini, folding up his newspaper, made a
leisurely descent. The cashier looked at him curiously.
"Wonder who it is," he remarked. "Looks like some sort of a
foreigner."
"It is Mrs. Weatherley's brother," Arnold told him.
Mr. Jarvis was deeply interested. A moment later a card was brought
in.
"Gentleman wishes to see Mr. Chetwode."
"You can show him in," Arnold directed.
Sabatini was already upon the threshold. He carried his gray Homburg
hat in his hand; he seemed to bring with him a subtle atmosphere of
refinement. The perfection of his clothes, the faint perfume from
his handkerchief, his unusual yet unnoticeable tie--these things
were a cult to himself. The little array of clerks, through whose
ranks he had passed, stared after him in wonder.
"How are you, my young friend?" he asked, smiling at Arnold.
"Immersed in business, I suppose?"
"We are very busy, naturally," Arnold answered. "Please come in and
sit down."
Sabatini laid his hat and stick upon the table and commenced
leisurely to draw off his gloves.
"This is Mr. Jarvis, who has been Mr. Weatherley's right-hand man
for a great many years," Arnold said, introducing him; "Count
Sabatini, Mr. Weatherley's brother-in-law."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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