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
Hmn---- Pay him? So that was how the land lay, was it? The boy was
heavily in debt to Blake, and if he had been at Cheyne Court that
night....
No, that was wrong, too, for there had been no trace of Bobby Wynne--up
to the present.
Meanwhile that young gentleman was obviously waiting to lead him
downstairs, and Cleek hesitated, trying to make up his mind what to do
for the best.
He would have liked to stay in this racing den, try to trace the
connection between Blake the tipster and Blake the head of the Pentacle
Club, and to find out whether Master Bobby Wynne had had any suspicions
as to the real identity of the "mistress" of Cheyne Court. But other
things called. There was that Verrall chap downstairs with Jennifer
Wynne herself. And the question of those utterly priceless flowers that
could fetch as much as fifty pounds for their grower.
Silently he followed his host downstairs, still looking a bit hang-dog
about the mouth for he was far too careful in his methods to cast any
doubt regarding the genuineness of that sudden attack of a moment before
by pretending that it was already over.
Nor did he fear that he had lost all opportunity for pursuing the
subject of Bobby Wynne's acquaintance with the murdered man. The mere
fact that the young man feared discovery of his connection with this
Blake proved conclusively that he knew his danger and that at any moment
inquiry might be made, even though there was no actual proof that he had
been in the vicinity of Cheyne Court that night.
"Fearfully groggy, old chap," he said in answer to Wynne's inquiry as to
whether he felt any better. They were passing down a dark, narrow
passage at the moment and a little door stood ajar toward the end of it.
A quick glance showed Cleek that the room beyond this door was lined
with shelves on which stood numerous rows of bottles.
Bobby Wynne's face seemed to whiten with unwonted anger. He gave a sharp
exclamation, and ran back to close the door quickly.
"The old guv'nor's surgery," he said in explanation. "Wonder who's been
in? Door's been kept locked ever since the old man died. Hullo,
Headland, you're not going to have another attack, are you?" For Cleek
had suddenly lurched against the bannister at the head of the stairs,
and swung round, until his back was resting against it.
He lolled his head back, gave a sort of hollow groan, and then under
cover of this began swiftly to count the doors in order to make sure of
the location of that surgery.
"No, it's only just a passing spasm. I was just wondering whether your
old dad had anything in his surgery to pull me together, clever chaps
some of these doctors, dontcher know."
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