The Riddle of the Purple EmperorHanshew, Thomas W.
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The Riddle of the Purple Emperor
Hanshew, Thomas W.
Cleek, Hamilton (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories
"Oh, no, my friend," replied Cleek, with one of his curious smiles. "I
do not think any living being would recognize me, unless I wished them
to. I can assure you, and I think I should know, that it was not Margot.
As to an object, that is another matter. Do not forget the fact that the
jewels belonging to the house of Cheyne are historic, and worth untold
wealth. All are or will be shortly in the power of the poor little girl
I drove home and who stands a very good chance of being the target of
every jewel thief in Europe. Still, I don't suppose any one would be
allowed to remove them without there being first-class evidence as to
their identity. That is where the mystery lies. It is a pity we do not
know the family lawyers, or we could put them on their guard."
Mr. Narkom looked up with a little start. "That's strange, now you come
to think of it, for as it happens I do know them--they are Shallcott,
Woodward & Company of Lincoln's Inn, and I came up to town this morning
with old Mr. Shallcott. He's a precise old soul, and I don't fancy
there's any chance of their playing any tricks on him. He was telling me
about a young client of his who comes into her kingdom of jewels in a
week or so's time. He did not mention any names, but in the light of
what you say, it must be this very same lady. Perhaps you would like to
see him for yourself, old chap, and if I can get off I will see into the
matter of that dead body without fail. I will issue a search warrant if
you like. That is, if it'll be any good to you, with your amazing
methods!"
"You never can tell, as the old woman said when she married for the
fifth time, and a search warrant is a search warrant when necessity
arises. I'll have it, my friend."
Mr. Narkom nodded. Then he looked out of the window of the limousine and
beckoned to Lennard to stop.
"Here we are," said he, "and I promise you poor Madame will be dead
enough!"
Dead she certainly was, and the cause of death was only too plain. The
poor soul had been stabbed straight to the heart as she had stood
bargaining over her own counter. Cleek gave a little sigh as he turned
away from the gruesome sight. Except for the fact that every wig and
article of woman's clothing had been removed, there was no evidence of
any robbery in the shop. It looked likely to prove one of those plain,
straightforward cases that end simply in the verdict of murder against
some person or persons unknown.
He was about to follow Mr. Narkom when his eye caught sight of an old,
faded daguerreotype photo standing on the mantelshelf. It was no less
than a photo of the Honourable Miss Cheyne, in a red dress and her
unique rings and at the bottom of it was inscribed, "Elsie McBride from
her mistress, Marion Cheyne."
CHAPTER VI
THE CRY IN THE NIGHT
Lady Margaret Cheyne awoke suddenly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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