Part 46 (2/2)
The man came--a c.o.c.kney, dense as his native fog--who maintained that n.o.body could have entered the stateroom without his knowledge or the knowledge of the stewardess.
”Do you think _she's_ been in my cabin?”
”No, sir.”
”Call her.”
The stewardess, an alert, intelligent little woman with a trace of West Indian blood in her, denied entering his stateroom. Shown the handkerchief and invited to sniff it, she professed utter ignorance concerning it, a.s.sured him that no lady in her section used that perfume, and offered to show it to the stewardesses of other sections on the chance of their identifying the perfume or the handkerchief.
”All right,” said Neeland; ”take it. But bring it back. And here's a sovereign. And--one thing more. If anybody pays you to deceive me, come to me and I'll outbid them. Is that a bargain?”
”Yes, sir,” she said unblus.h.i.+ngly.
When she had gone away with the handkerchief, Neeland closed the door again and said to the steward:
”Keep an eye on my door. I am positive that somebody has taken a wax impression of the keyhole. What I said to that stewardess also holds good with you. I'll outbid anybody who bribes you.”
”Very good, sir.”
”Sure it's good! It's devilish good. Here's a beautiful and newly minted gold sovereign. Isn't it artistic? It's yours, steward.”
”Thanky, sir.”
”Not at all. And, by the way, what's that invalid gentleman's name?”
”'Awks, sir.”
”Hawks?”
”Yes, sir; Mr. 'Erbert 'Awks.”
”American?”
”I don't know, sir.”
”British?”
”Shall I inquire, sir?” starting to go.
”Not of _him_! Don't be a lunatic, steward! Please try to understand that I want nothing said about this matter or about my inquiries.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Very well, then! Find out, if you can, who Mr. Herbert Hawks is. Find out all you can concerning him. It's easy money, isn't it?”
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