Part 26 (1/2)

The solicitor unfolded the other doc.u.ment.

”Here's a schedule, prepared by Mr. Multenius himself, and handed by him to me not many weeks ago, of his property outside this business,”

he remarked. ”I'll go through the items. Shares in the Great Western Railway. Shares in the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway.

Government Stock. Certain American Railway Stock. It's all particularized--and all gilt-edged security. Now then, about his house property. There's a block of flats at Hampstead. There are six houses at Highgate. There are three villas in the Finchley Road. The rents of all these have been collected by Messrs. Holder and Keeper, estate agents, and evidently paid by them direct to your esteemed relative's account at his bank. And then--to wind up--there is a small villa in Maida Vale, which he let furnished--you never heard of that?”

”Never!” exclaimed Zillah, while Melky shook his head.

”There's a special note about that at the end of this schedule,” said Mr. Penniket. ”In his own hand--like all the rest. This is what he says. 'N. B. Molteno Lodge, Maida Vale--all the furniture, pictures, belongings in this are mine--I have let it as a furnished residence at 12 a month, all clear, for some years past. Let at present, on same terms, rent paid quarterly, in advance, to two Chinese gentlemen, Mr.

Chang Li and Mr. Chen Li--good tenants.”

Zillah uttered another sharp exclamation and sprang to her feet. She walked across to an old-fas.h.i.+oned standup desk which stood in a corner of the parlour, drew a bunch of keys from her pocket, and raised the lid.

”That explains something!” she said. ”I looked into this desk the other day--grandfather used to throw letters and papers in there sometimes, during the day, and then put them away at night. Here's a cheque here that puzzled me--I don't know anything about it. But--it'll be a quarter's rent for that house. Look at the signatures!”

She laid a cheque before Melky and Mr. Penniket and stood by while they looked at it. There was nothing remarkable about the cheque--made out to Mr. Daniel Multenius on order for 36--except the two odd looking names at its foot--_Chang Li: Chen Li_. Otherwise, it was just like all other cheques--and it was on a local bank, in Edgware Road, and duly crossed. But Melky instantly observed the date, and put one of his long fingers to it.

”November 18th,” he remarked. ”The day he died. Did you notice that, Zillah?”

”Yes,” answered Zillah. ”It must have come in by post and he's thrown it, as he often did throw things, into that desk. Well--that's explained! That'll be the quarter's rent, then, for this furnished house, Mr. Penniket?”

”Evidently!” agreed the solicitor. ”Of course, there's no need to give notice to these two foreigners--yet. It'll take a little time to settle the estate, and you can let them stay on awhile. I know who they are--your grandfather mentioned them--two medical students, of University College. They're all right. Well, now, that completes the schedule. As regards administering the estate--”

A sudden gentle but firm knock at the side-door brought Zillah to her feet again.

”I know that knock,” she remarked. ”It's Ayscough, the detective. I suppose he may come in, now?”

A moment later Ayscough, looking very grave and full of news, had joined the circle round the table. He shook his head as he glanced at Mr. Penniket.

”I came on here to give you a bit of information,” he said. ”There's been an important development this afternoon. You know the name of this Stephen Purvis that's been mentioned as having been about here? Well, this afternoon his brother turned up from Devons.h.i.+re. He wanted to see us--to tell us something. He thinks Stephen's been murdered!”

”On what grounds?” asked the solicitor.

”It turns out Stephen had sent Mr. Multenius a rare fine diamond--uncut--from South Africa,” answered Ayscough. ”Worth every penny of eighty thousand pounds!”

He was closely watching Zillah and Melky as he gave this piece of news, and he was quick to see their utter astonishment. Zillah turned to the solicitor; Melky slapped the table.

”That's been what the old man fetched from his bank that day!” he exclaimed. ”S'elp me if I ain't beginning to see light! Robbery--before murder!”

”That's about it,” agreed Ayscough. ”But I'll tell you all that's come out.”

He went on to narrate the events of the afternoon, from the arrival of Mr. Killick and his companions at the police station to the coming of John Purvis, and his three listeners drank in every word with rising interest. Mr. Penniket became graver and graver.

”Where's Mr. Killick now--and the rest of them?” he asked in the end.

”Gone to find that American chap--Guyler,” answered Ayscough. ”They did think he might be likely--having experience of these South African matters--to know something how Stephen Purvis may have been followed.

You see--you're bound to have some theory! It looks as if Stephen Purvis had been tracked--for the sake of that diamond. The thieves probably tracked it to this shop--most likely attacked Mr. Multenius for it. They'd most likely been in here just before young Lauriston came in.”

”But where does Stephen Purvis come in--then?” asked Mr. Penniket.