The Master Detective: Being Some Further Investigations of Christopher QuarlesBrebner, Percy James
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The Master Detective: Being Some Further Investigations of Christopher Quarles
Brebner, Percy James
Detective and mystery stories
"It doesn't seem to me very strange that she went," I returned. "I have
been busy, but there is not very much to tell. I have got the house
watched as you suggested. The Paris police telegraph that an Englishman
named George Radley is at the Hotel Vendome, a harmless tourist
apparently, going about Paris seeing the sights. Schuster was able to
give me Bush's address, and I called upon him, but did not see him. He
had gone to a case in Yorkshire, but may be back any time. He lives in
Hampstead, in quite a pleasant flat overlooking the Heath."
"Is he married?"
"No, he has a housekeeper, rather a deaf old lady who speaks of him as
the doctor."
"You didn't chance to see a portrait of him?"
"No, there were no photographs about of any kind. His hobby seems to be
old prints, of which he has some good specimens. I should say his
temperament is artistic."
"That is an interesting conclusion," said the professor. "You didn't get
any idea of his age?"
"No. This morning I went to Clarence Lodge and find you are by no means
liked there."
"Indeed."
"An old gentleman called there yesterday afternoon saying you had asked
him to go and see Mrs. Crosland about her rheumatism--a Mr. Morrison."
"The silly old ass!" exclaimed the professor. "He is the man I told
Crosland of, the man who cured rheumatism so marvelously. I suppose
Morrison misread my letter and went at once instead of waiting to be
sent for."
"Crosland appears to have given him a piece of his mind," I laughed, "and
called you a meddlesome fool."
"Poor old Morrison, but it serves him right."
"He managed to see Mrs. Crosland," I said. "When the old lady heard he
was there she would see him. As the son was anxious his mother
shouldn't know of the tragedy, it was arranged that she should be told
that Morrison's visit was the outcome of a casual remark Crosland had
dropped to a friend concerning Mrs. Crosland's suffering. The old lady
appears to have put the old man through his paces, but ended by being
convinced that Morrison knew what he was talking about. He has been
asked to call again."
"Then I appear to have done the old lady a good turn after all," said
Quarles. "Did you see Mrs. Crosland, Wigan?"
"No. The butler opened the door, and I only saw young Crosland besides. I
explained to him the necessity of having the house watched, and I think
he believes I am afraid he will attempt to run away. He is a little
nervous about his position in the affair. I reassured him."
"It's a pity you didn't manage to see the old lady. Don't you think it
would be interesting to know what she is like?"
"I can't say I am very interested on that point."
"Well, we can ask old Morrison," said Quarles. "I daresay his quackery
has made him a close observer. You don't succeed as a quack unless you
have a keen appreciation of the foibles and weaknesses of human nature."
"You have my facts, Professor; now, have you progressed with your theory;
has revolver practise had something to do with it?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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