Part 37 (2/2)
”Promptness is our first lesson in my profession,” replied he, with an affable smile.
”Yes! and have you learned anything new since Monday?”
”Nothing of importance. The party under suspicion has been entertaining a friend, and has been out very little.”
”Oh!”
”One thing occurred on Monday last, not long after I had left you, which I can't help looking on with suspicion.”
”Indeed! and may I hear it?”
”I think so. Without stopping to explain my modes of taking observations, I will give the bare fact. On Monday afternoon, while Doctor Heath was alone in his office, a boy, carrying on his head a tray of carvings, stopped at the foot of the stairs, set down his tray, ran up the flight like a young cat, and just as quietly, and slipped a note underneath the office door.”
”Really!” in real surprise, and some disturbance of mind. ”And you know nothing more about the note?”
”Nothing; but I shall soon I trust.”
”Then you intend following up this case, Mr. Belknap?”
He looked up with a start of astonishment.
”Is not that your intention?”
”Decidedly not.”
”But--have you consulted with Mr. Lamotte?”
”I have consulted with no one, sir. I thought over the matter once more, and decided to let my own mind guide my actions.”
”But Mr. Lamotte thinks the case should be pushed.”
”Mr. Lamotte is my neighbor, not my guardian. He is good enough to advise me sometimes; I think he would scarcely presume to dictate.”
”Ah! then I am to consider myself no longer in your service?”
She bowed her head.
”After I have cancelled my indebtedness to you,” she said, serenely.
With a look of vexation that he could not hide, the private detective drew from his pocket a memorandum book, and from thence a slip of paper, which he handed to Constance.
”That is my statement,” he said.
She ran her eye over the itemized account, smiling a little as she did so. Then, rising swiftly, she said:
”Excuse me for one moment.”
He bowed silently, and she went out, returning soon with a bank cheque, which she placed in his hands, saying:
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