Part 41 (1/2)
Nichols pa.s.sed his hand over his brow. ”I know another way,” he said, glancing down at Loris. ”There is a way which is far cleverer than Cuthbert thought of. It could be done by a tuning-fork or reed.”
”Certainly!” exclaimed Drew. ”I never thought of that. A reed attuned to a certain voice could be adapted to trip a trigger. Then the loaded receiver could be set so that one of your friends who had a peculiar voice, either high or low, would slay you. Rather terrifying revenge, that!”
”Beyond the pale!” said Nichols. ”It's too bad this man Cuthbert didn't exercise one-tenth of his genius in perfecting war inventions. He'd have helped us a lot.”
Drew nodded and strode to the curtains at a side window. He peered out, rubbed the frosted panes, and pressed his nose against the gla.s.s.
”Stopped snowing!” he exclaimed, coming back and clasping Delaney's arm. ”You hurry downstairs and telephone Fosd.i.c.k that we are waiting for him. Tell him to notify the coroner that there's a subject here which will interest him. We'll not explain everything to either the coroner or Fosd.i.c.k. No one save us shall know the secret of the receiver.”
”Delaney,” said Nichols, as the big operative started through the portieres. ”Mr. Delaney.”
”Yes!” boomed back through the room.
”Ask the Commissioner if he will release Miss Stockbridge's servants.
It was an outrage.”
”That's right!” exclaimed Drew, striding to the portieres. ”Tell him I said so, Delaney. Tell him just what you think. Give it to him strong!
He bungled and he don't deserve a bit of sympathy.”
”Mr. Drew?”
The detective wheeled on one heel and glanced back at Loris, who had risen and was standing with her arm linked within Nichols'. ”Mr. Drew,”
she repeated with slow insistence, ”won't you have another cup of tea before you go?”
”That I will, Miss Stockbridge. We three shall drink to the end of the case. Have you asked all the questions you want to? I want to forget this night as soon as possible. You were too close to death to suit me.”
”I don't think of any more questions,” said Loris, disengaging her arm and gliding across the room. ”We'll get the tea. There is one matter. I want to pay you for your splendid services.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Drew. ”Ah, Miss Stockbridge, they were far from being splendid. I lost my reputation in the first instance. I should never have allowed your father to remain alone in the library. That was very short-sighted on my part.”
”You couldn't think of everything.”
”I underestimated the gravity of the situation.”
”Perhaps father didn't explain how dangerous his enemies really were.”
”No, I don't think it was that, exactly. I had been reading so many accounts of German spies that I connected this case with one of them. I took precautions against anything that a German might think of. I didn't figure on super-brains of the criminal order. Cuthbert Morphy had them!”
The maid appeared with the tray and hot water. Drew took the cup from Loris with a bow. He allowed the tea to cool as he glanced at the two lovers. They had grown closer together over the time of the investigation. Nichols had that poise which is given to well-trained army men. He never said too much. This was a trait which pleased the detective immensely. It spoke volumes for Loris and her judgment in placing her trust in him.
”I actually hate to leave you people,” Drew said, finis.h.i.+ng the cup.
”But I must be on my way.”
Loris arched her dark brows. Her mouth parted into a soft smile. Her eyes glistened with moisture. ”Harry is going, too,” she said, glancing from Drew to Nichols. ”He has to go! I'll sleep upstairs in mother's old room to-night. The maid can watch. Perhaps the butler will be back.”
”He'll be back!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the detective, adjusting his coat collar and stroking his mustache. ”I'll see to that if I have to go over Fosd.i.c.k's thick head. You can expect all of your servants within an hour.”
Heavy footfalls on the rugs outside the suite announced Delaney. He came through the portieres rubbing his hands in the manner of a man who was well-satisfied with his errand.