Sir George gave me an assurance, as we sat together before we turned in
for a few hours' sleep, that his patient was progressing favourably, and
that I might again see her the next day. Cardew also remained, and as
we three sat smoking we discussed the strange affair, wondering what
motive the man Shaw could possibly have in attempting so ingeniously and
in such cold blood a second crime. But we could arrive at no definite
conclusion. The whole affair was entirely shrouded in mystery.
In the morning I was permitted to see Asta again. She seemed much
better and spoke quite brightly.
"Mr Kemball," she said, after we had been chatting for some minutes,
"I--I--I want to tell you something--something very important--when we
are alone."
"No, not now. Miss Seymour," interrupted Sir George, shaking his finger
at his patient, and laughing. "Later on--a little later on. You must
not excite yourself to-day."
And so, with a pretty pout, she was compelled to remain silent at the
doctor's orders.
I suppose I must have been there a full quarter of an hour, though the
time passed so rapidly that it only appeared like a few moments. Then I
bade her be of good cheer and went forth again.
She had made no mention of the man who was a fugitive.
The only poignant remark she had made was a warning.
"Be careful when you go into my bedroom. There is something in there,"
she had said. But I had only laughed and promised her that I would not
intrude.
About eleven o'clock Redwood arrived, and as he met me in the hall he
pushed a copy of that day's _Times_ under my nose, asking--
"Seen this, Mr Kemball? It concerns you, I fancy. That's the name you
mentioned yesterday, isn't it?"
Eagerly I scanned the lines which he indicated. It was an
advertisement, which read--
"_Re_ Melvill, Arnold.--Will the gentleman to whom Mr Melvill Arnold
has entrusted a certain ancient object in bronze kindly deliver it
according to promise, first communicating with Messrs. Fryer and
Davidson, solicitors, 196 London Wall, London, E.C."
I read it again and again.
Then of a sudden I recollected that it was the third of November. On
that day I had instructions to deliver the bronze cylinder to the first
person who made application for it!
The low, soft-spoken words of the dying man as he had handed me the
heavy cylinder, bidding me keep it in safe custody, recurred to me as I
stood there with the newspaper in my hand. So I resolved to go at once
to London, and call upon the firm who had advertised.
Soon after three o'clock, therefore, I ascended in the lift of a large
block of offices in London Wall, and entered the swing doors of Messrs.
Fryer and Davidson.