FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   >>  
e premises or escaped without your notice." "I suppose," Anna said, "that those are reasonable deductions." The detective thrust his notebook into his pocket. "I brought a man with me who is posted outside," he remarked. "With your permission I should like to search the remainder of your rooms." Anna showed him the way. "Have either of you been out of this room since you discovered what had happened?" he asked. "Mr. Brendon went for the doctor," Anna answered. "I have not left this apartment myself." Nothing unusual was discovered in any other part of the flat. While they were still engaged in looking round the doctor returned with a nurse and assistant. "With your permission," he said to Anna, "I shall arrange a bed for him where he is. There is scarcely one chance in a dozen of saving his life; there would be none at all if he were moved." "You can make any arrangements you like," Anna declared. "I shall leave the flat to you and go to a hotel." "You would perhaps be so good as to allow one of my men to accompany you and see you settled," Mr. Dorling said deferentially. "In the event of his death we should require you at once to attend at the inquest." "I am going to pack my bag," Anna answered. "In five minutes I shall be ready." _Chapter XXV_ THE STEEL EDGE OF THE TRUTH The manservant, with his plain black clothes and black tie, had entered the room with a deferential little gesture. "You will pardon me, sir," he said in a subdued tone, "but I think that you have forgotten to look at your engagement book. There is Lady Arlingford's reception to-night, ten till twelve, and the Hatton House ball, marked with a cross, sir, important. I put your clothes out an hour ago." Nigel Ennison looked up with a little start. "All right, Dunster," he said. "I may go to Hatton House later, but you needn't wait. I can get into my clothes." The man hesitated. "Can I bring you anything, sir--a whisky and soda, or a liqueur? You'll excuse me, sir, but you haven't touched your coffee." "Bring me a whisky and soda, and a box of cigarettes," Ennison answered, "and then leave me alone, there's a good fellow. I'm a little tired." The man obeyed his orders noiselessly and then left the room. Ennison roused himself with an effort, took a long drink from his whisky and soda, and lit a cigarette. "What a fool I am!" he muttered, standing up on the hearthrug, and leaning his elbows
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   >>  



Top keywords:
whisky
 

answered

 

Ennison

 

clothes

 

doctor

 
discovered
 
Hatton
 

permission

 
deferential
 

marked


entered

 

manservant

 
gesture
 

important

 
Arlingford
 

reception

 
engagement
 
subdued
 

pardon

 

twelve


forgotten

 

roused

 

noiselessly

 

effort

 

orders

 

obeyed

 

fellow

 

standing

 

hearthrug

 

leaning


elbows

 
muttered
 

cigarette

 

cigarettes

 

Dunster

 
looked
 

hesitated

 
touched
 

coffee

 
excuse

liqueur
 

happened

 
Brendon
 
apartment
 

engaged

 

Nothing

 
unusual
 

showed

 
reasonable
 

deductions