The Stolen Statesman: Being the Story of a Hushed Up MysteryLe Queux, William
General
The Stolen Statesman: Being the Story of a Hushed Up Mystery
Le Queux, William
Detective and mystery stories; Kidnapping -- Fiction; London (England) -- Fiction; Politicians -- Fiction
Johnson again expressed his admiration of his cousin's resource,
suggested a little _douceur_ for his trouble, and gallantly invited him
and his sweetheart to take a bit of dinner with him.
But Willet, who was of a jealous disposition, waved him sternly away.
"After marriage, if you like, my lad, not before. You're too
good-looking, and not old enough. Never introduce your young lady to a
pal. No offence, of course. You'd do the same in my place, or you
haven't got the headpiece I give you credit for."
Johnson admitted meekly that in the case of an attractive young woman it
was wise to take precautions. They parted on the understanding that
they would meet at the same place two nights later.
They met at the time appointed, and there was an almost offensive air of
triumph about Mr Willet's demeanour that argued good things. He
started by ordering refreshment.
"Now to business," he said, in his sharp, slangy way. "I've pumped Lily
all right, and this job seems as easy as falling off a house. No
letters have come from the lady, or gone to her, since she left, but--"
he made a long pause here. "Every week a letter comes to Mrs Adair
with the Weymouth postmark on it and every week Mrs Adair writes to a
Mrs Marsh, whom Lily never heard of, and the letter is addressed to the
Weymouth post-office. The writing on the envelope that comes to Mrs
Adair is not Lady W.'s. Do you tumble?"
"It's a hundred chances to one that her ladyship is at Weymouth, and her
maid addresses the envelope," was Johnson's answer.
"I say ditto. Mrs Adair's letter is posted every Thursday. To-day is
Wednesday. Put yourself in the Weymouth train to-morrow, keep a watch
on the post-office next morning, and the odds are that letter will be
fetched by Lady Wrenwyck, or her maid."
"Thanks to the portrait I know the mistress, but I don't know the maid.
Describe her to me."
Mr Willet produced a piece of paper and pencil. "I'm a bit of an
artist in my spare time. I'll draw her for you so exactly that you
can't mistake her."
He completed the sketch and handed it to his cousin. Later, they parted
with mutual expressions of good will.
Friday morning saw Johnson prowling round the Weymouth post-office. He
had to wait some time, but his patience was rewarded--he saw both Lady
Wrenwyck and her maid.
After issuing from the post-office, they went together to several shops,
strolled for a few minutes up and down the sea front, and then returned
home.
He had not expected to find them at a hotel, for obvious reasons. He
was not therefore surprised when they entered one of the bigger houses
facing the sea. They wanted privacy, and their only chance of getting
that was in lodgings.
He snatched a hasty lunch, and kept observation on the house till about
six o'clock, in the hope that her ladyship would come out again with a
companion. But he was disappointed in this expectation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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