The Coward Behind the Curtain. Marsh Richard

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СКАЧАТЬ a lady; though plainly dressed; in fact, for a lady, almost shabby."

      "Did she and Mr Emmett appear to be upon good terms?"

      "Well, sir, I couldn't exactly say that they did."

      "What do you mean by that? On what sort of terms were they? Explain yourself, man."

      "Well, sir-for one thing she never uttered so much as a single word while I was in the room, neither to me nor to Mr Emmett; not even so much as yes or no when I handed her a dish. And she scarcely ate anything; and she never drank anything neither. Mr Emmett told me to fill her glass with champagne; but I don't believe she ever so much as put her lips to it-in fact, when I came in and found him there was her glass just as it was when I filled it. Mr Emmett, he did all the talking. From the way in which she sat right back in her chair-that's the chair in which she sat, sir-and never spoke or moved, it seemed as if she were frightened half out of her life of him."

      "Why should she be frightened? Did you hear him say anything to frighten her?"

      "No, sir, nothing I could swear to; but he kept speaking to her in a chaffing sort of way, which I could see she didn't like."

      "Did she seem to be angry? – in a bad temper?"

      "No, sir, not so much that as afraid of him."

      "When he went out to see this gentleman, did he leave her behind?"

      "Yes, sir, he did, on that chair; and I couldn't help noticing how queer she looked-so white that I couldn't help wondering if she was feeling ill."

      "Was she here when you found him?"

      "No, sir; the room was empty."

      "Did anyone see her go out of the room? – did you?"

      "No, sir; I haven't seen her since I saw her sitting in that chair."

      "Then where is she now? Where is she, Mr Elsey?"

      "I've no more idea than you have, Mr Tinney. As I've already tried to explain, till a moment or two ago I hadn't the faintest notion that there was a lady in the case."

      "Mrs Elsey, where is this interesting young lady?"

      Dorothy, behind the blind and the curtain, could scarcely refrain from shrieking: "Here!"

      Mrs Elsey shook her head.

      "That's more than I can tell you, Mr Tinney. Beyond knowing that a young lady came with Mr Emmett, I don't know anything. What Timmins has been telling you is all news to me."

      "Someone must know where she is, if she's in the house. I don't want to make any statement, but it seems to me that she's a most important witness, and the sooner she's produced the better. If, as Mr Timmins hints, she was feeling ill, she may have retired to her room. Perhaps, Mrs Elsey, you won't mind making inquiries. If she isn't in her room, wherever she is, she must be found, so don't let there be any mistake about it. I must have an interview with this very interesting young lady before we are either of us very much older-you understand?"

      "No, Mr Tinney, I can't say I do understand; not as you put it. I will have inquiries made; in fact, I'll make them myself; but as for finding her, wherever she is, that's another question altogether, and one for which I decline to be held responsible. Things are coming to a pretty pass if I'm to be held responsible for the comings and goings of anyone who chooses to take a room in my house."

      The lady sailed out of the room, with her head in the air. The inspector looked at her husband.

      "I'm afraid I've trodden on Mrs Elsey's toes."

      "She's very sensitive, Mrs Elsey is-very sensitive. I'm far from saying that you mean anything; but, as you must see for yourself, she has enough to bear already, without having more put upon her."

      "I'm putting nothing on her. I simply say that that young woman must be found, and, if your good lady can't find her, someone else will have to, because found she's got to be-and pretty soon."

      "Quite so, Mr Tinney, quite so; no one denies it for a single instant. I only wish that I had known of her existence sooner; much trouble might have been saved."

      How that was, was not quite clear. The inspector made no comment. He turned to the waiter.

      "Now, Mr Timmins, about this gentleman whom you say Mr Emmett went out to see. Did you know him? Was he a stranger? What did he look like?"

      "That, sir, is more than I can tell you, seeing that I never saw him. The message and the note were both brought to me by one of the coffee-room waiters, of the name of Dowling-he may be able to tell you more than I can."

      "Then fetch Mr Dowling here."

      The landlord interposed.

      "Excuse me! – one moment, Mr Tinney! At present no one knows what has occurred except ourselves; and, if it is possible, I should like as few persons as possible to know, till the morning."

      "I don't see how you're going to prevent people knowing; you can't cover a murder with a napkin."

      "Exactly; still, at the same time, if you wouldn't mind interviewing Dowling in my room, instead of here, I shall be only too glad to place it at your service; and to ensure you all possible privacy."

      "Very well; there need be no difficulty about that. Have you finished, Dr Nichols?"

      "I think I may say that, for the present, I have. Of course, a further examination will be necessary; but I think, under the circumstances, that that may be postponed till the morning; when, perhaps, I may be able to have the assistance of one of my colleagues."

      "Have the assistance of whoever you like. Have his pockets been touched, Mr Elsey?"

      "Certainly not, Mr Tinney: nothing has been touched-nothing; at least, not by anyone in my employ. I took care of that."

      "Then I'll go through them, in your presence. It's just as well to have witnesses in cases of this sort." Mr Tinney "went through" the pockets of the man on the table; subjecting him to a process to which he would probably have strongly objected had it been in his power to object. A heterogeneous collection they produced.

      "I'll put these things in my handkerchief, Mr Elsey; and, if you don't mind, I'll draw up a list of them, in your presence, in your room downstairs. In these cases you can't be too particular; and, as it's quite within the bounds of possibility that circumstances might arise in which someone may wish to hold you responsible for the property which he had in his possession when he came to your hotel, it's only right and proper that you should know exactly what I have got of his in my keeping. Now there's one other thing, before we go downstairs; about this room. If the corpse is to be left here-and I think it'll just be as well that it should be-then I must lock the door, and take the key. Have you a pass-key?"

      "I believe I have one, somewhere."

      "Then you must let me have it; you must let me have any keys which fit that lock. And you must give me your undertaking that no one, neither you nor Mrs Elsey, nor anyone, shall come into this room until I unlock it in the morning. If you won't, or can't, give me such an undertaking, then I shall have to leave one of my men outside there all night, to keep an eye on the door, to see that no one does come in."

      "I will certainly give you such an undertaking-certainly I will! I promise you that no one shall come near the room; no one! You need have no fears СКАЧАТЬ