Part 4 (1/2)

”Did you see anybody leaving the place when you entered?” he asked.

”There was no one about here when I came in--either at the street door or at the side door,” replied Lauriston, readily. ”The whole place was quiet--deserted--except for him. And--he was dead when I found him.”

The inspector drew Ayscough aside and they talked in whispers for a few minutes, eyeing Lauriston now and then; eventually they approached him.

”I understand you're known here, and that you live in the neighbourhood,” said the inspector. ”You'll not object if the sergeant goes round with you to your lodgings--you'll no doubt be able to satisfy him about your respectability, and so on. I don't want to suggest anything--but--you understand?”

”I understand,” replied Lauriston. ”I'll show or tell him anything he likes. I've told you the plain truth.”

”Go with him now,” directed the inspector; ”you know what to do, Ayscough!”

Half an hour later, when the dead man had been carried to his room, and the shop and house had been closed, Melky Rubinstein, who had come in while the police were still there, and had remained when they had gone, stood talking to Zillah in the upstairs sitting-room. Melky was unusually grave: Zillah had already gathered that the police had some suspicion about Lauriston.

”I'll go round there and see what the detective fellow's doing with him,” said Melky. ”I ain't got no suspicion about him--not me!

But--it's an awkward position--and them rings, too! Now, if he'd only ha' shown 'em to me, first, Zillah--see?”

”Do go, Melky!” urged Zillah tearfully. ”Of course, he'd nothing to do with it. Oh!--I wish I'd never gone out!”

Melky went downstairs. He paused for a moment in the little parlour, glancing meditatively at the place where the old man had been found dead. And suddenly his keen eyes saw an object which lay close to the fender, half hidden by a ta.s.sel of the hearthrug, and he stooped and picked it up--a solitaire stud, made of platinum, and ornamented with a curious device.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE TWO LETTERS

Once outside the shop, Lauriston turned sharply on the detective.

”Look here!” he said. ”I wish you'd just tell me the truth. Am I suspected? Am I--in some way or other--in custody?”

Ayscough laughed quietly, wagging his head.

”Certainly not in custody,” he answered. ”And as to the other--well, you know, Mr. Lauriston, supposing we put it in this way?--suppose you'd been me, and I'd been you, half-an-hour ago? What would you have thought if you'd found me in the situation and under the circ.u.mstances in which I found you? Come, now!”

”Yes,” replied Lauriston, after a moment's reflection. ”I suppose it's natural that you should suspect me--finding me there, alone with the old man. But--”

”It's not so much suspicion in a case of this sort, as a wish to satisfy one's self,” interrupted the detective. ”You seem a gentleman-like young fellow, and you may be all right. I want to know that you are--I'd like to know that you are! It would be no satisfaction to me to fasten this business on you, I can a.s.sure you.

And if you like to tell me about yourself, and how you came to go to Multenius's--why, it would be as well.”

”There's not much to tell,” answered Lauriston. ”I came from Scotland to London, two years ago or thereabouts, to earn my living by writing.

I'd a bit of money when I came--I've lived on it till now. I've just begun to earn something. I've been expecting a cheque for some work for these last ten or twelve days, but I was running short last week--so I went to that place to p.a.w.n my watch--I saw the young lady there. As my cheque hadn't arrived today, I went there again to p.a.w.n those rings I told you about and showed you. And--that's all. Except this--I was advised to go to Multenius's by a relation of theirs, Mr. Rubinstein, who lodges where I do. He knows me.”

”Oh, Melky Rubinstein!” said Ayscough. ”I know Melky--sharp chap he is.

He sold me this pin I'm wearing. Well, that seems quite a straightforward tale, Mr. Lauriston. I've no doubt all will be satisfactory. You've friends in London, of course?”

”No--none,” replied Lauriston. ”And scarcely an acquaintance. I've kept to myself--working hard: I've had no time--nor inclination, either--to make friends. Here's the house where I lodge--it's not much of a place, but come in.”

They had reached Mrs. Flitwick's house by that time, and Mrs. Flitwick herself was in the narrow, shabby pa.s.sage as they entered. She immediately produced two letters.

”Here's two letters for you, Mr. Lauriston,” she said, with a sharp glance at Ayscough. ”One of 'em's a registered--I did sign for it. So I kept 'em myself, instead of sending 'em up to your room.”