The Riddle of the Purple EmperorHanshew, Thomas W.
General
The Riddle of the Purple Emperor
Hanshew, Thomas W.
Cleek, Hamilton (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories
The correspondent of the _Party Lantern_ therefore "discovered" that the
murdered man was a famous member of a Royal house, condemned by his
seniors to become dead to the world, owing to his having offended the
masonic societies of his country. Further details the _Lantern_ refused
to give, though hinting darkly at deeds of misconduct that would have
made Don Giovanni turn green with envy. As to the whereabouts of Lady
Margaret, they again contented themselves with wild hints as to what
they might have told, had it not been for their "honour."
On the other hand, the _Evening Tatler_ "discovered" and declared the
man to be nothing more exciting than a low-down anarchist, who had tried
to do his boon companions out of their share of the loot of the Cheyne
jewels. That they were any nearer to the truth, however, than their
contemporary, was equally open to query; though when Mr. Narkom pointed
out the arguments of the reporter to his ally Cleek gave a little
approving nod.
"Best thing we can do is to shut that young man up," he said, tersely.
"Get on to the _Evening Tatler_, Mr. Narkom, and tell the news editor
that we only want vague eventualities given to the public just now--no
facts at all. Otherwise, you know, we shall put the Pentacle Club on
guard, and if this is one of its crimes, we want to scotch the whole
gang once and for all. That this man was a member of the Club is
certain, for the markings of that Pentacle were not branded on, as in
former cases where people were murdered from motives of revenge, but
finely tattooed, showing that our friend is decidedly an old hand at the
game. Personally, I want to find out what Blake is doing."
Mr. Narkom mopped his face with a silk handkerchief, a sure sign of
emotion upon his part.
"I don't think this can be James Blake," said he, reflectively, "for I
looked up his record after what you said a little while back about his
being the head of the gang and learned that he left England a year or
more ago, and nothing had been heard of him in his old haunts, or by his
boon companions since."
"Hmn," said Cleek with a grim little laugh, "lying low, evidently,
after, or in view of some big coup, but that doesn't prove anything
about our murdered friend here. It's finger-prints we want."
"And we shall have them, too," threw in the Superintendent triumphantly,
fumbling in his pocketbook with fingers that themselves shook with
excitement. "I had a copy made of Blake's."
"Good man," ejaculated Cleek, as he took the precious scrap of paper,
and went up to the room wherein had been placed the victim of a
vengeance, possibly as just as that of the law itself. By the time Mr.
Narkom had made his way more slowly and ponderously up to the same spot,
he found Cleek looking down with considerable disappointment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account