The Seven ConundrumsOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
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The Seven Conundrums
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories, English; English fiction -- 20th century
"I don't think they'll miss the opportunity," her interlocutor retorted,
with a sardonic smile.
She laid her speaking trumpet in her lap.
"I sha'n't listen to you any more," she declared. "You're a rude old
man. If it interests any one else to know what will become of me, I have
relatives in Bristol who will be only too glad for me to pay them a
visit."
"They'll be gladder to get rid of her," Mr. Grant observed, looking
around for sympathy.
At that moment the hall porter touched me on the shoulder. The
inevitable note was thrust into my hand.
"I found this on my desk just now, sir," he announced, in answer to my
look of enquiry. "Sorry I can't tell you how it got there."
I opened it and read:
You will terminate your engagement at the Crown this evening.
Proceed to London to-morrow, where you will find rooms taken
for you at the Mayfair Hotel. Accept any offer you may receive
of a lift to London, individually or collectively.
I showed Leonard the note, and hurried away to the manager's office. He
made no difficulty about letting us go; in fact, I gathered that half
the residents in the hotel were hurrying away by motor car, fearing a
general confiscation of petrol. He detained me just as I was leaving the
room.
"Queer affair, that attempted robbery, Mr. Lister," he remarked.
"Extraordinary," I agreed.
"I notice you people seem quite friendly with Mr. Kinlosti," he
continued. "Do you know if it is true that he is related to the late
Tsar?"
"I have no idea," I answered. "All that he has told us is that he was a
member of the household."
"He may be a nobleman, and I dare say he is," the manager went on, a
little nervously, "but I don't care about people at my hotel with a
savage manservant like his and half a million pounds' worth of jewels.
Bath isn't the place for that sort of thing. My clients like a quiet
life."
"No doubt," I answered. "Anyhow, he's leaving to-morrow."
"Prince or no prince, I am glad to hear it," was the heartfelt reply.
"People ought to deposit valuables like that in a bank. They're simply
asking for trouble when they cart them about the country. It's a thing
I've very seldom done to a client, but I told Mr. Kinlosti this evening
that I should be glad for him to leave as soon as convenient."
I went back to the corner where I had left Rose. My disquietude
increased as I approached. Both she and her companion were quite
unconscious of my coming. Kinlosti was leaning forward, talking
earnestly, and Rose was listening with a queer and unfamiliar look in
her eyes. Leonard suddenly gripped me by the arm and led me a little
distance away.
"Maurice," he confided, "that fellow Kinlosti is making love to her."
"If I thought so!" I muttered, clenching my fists.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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