Part 9 (1/2)
”Nothing!” said Mr. Minute briefly.
”Then,” said the other, smiling, ”there is probably nothing known against them, and they are quite innocent people trying to get a living. After all, Mr. Minute, a man who is as rich as you are must expect to attract a number of people, each trying to secure some of your wealth in a more or less legitimate way. I suspect nothing more remarkable than this has happened.”
He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped, a sudden frown on his face.
”I hate to suggest that anybody knows any more than we, but as you are so worried I will put you in touch with a man who will probably relieve your anxiety.”
Minute looked up.
”A police officer?” he asked.
Sir George shook his head.
”No, this is a private detective. He can do things for you which we cannot. Have you ever heard of Saul Arthur Mann? I see you haven't. Saul Arthur Mann,” said the commissioner, ”has been a good friend of ours, and possibly in recommending him to you I may be a good friend to both of you. He is 'The Man Who Knows.'”
”'The Man Who Knows,'” repeated Mr. Minute dubiously. ”What does he know?”
”I'll show you,” said the commissioner. He went to the telephone, gave a number, and while he was waiting for the call to be put through he asked: ”What is the name of your boy-scout parson?”
”The Reverend Vincent Lock,” replied Mr. Minute.
”I suppose you don't know the name of your gla.s.s peddler?”
Minute shook his head.
”They call him 'Waxy' in the village,” he said.
”And the lady's name is Miss Paines, I think?” asked the commissioner, jotting down the names as he repeated them. ”Well, we shall--h.e.l.lo! Is that Saul Arthur Mann? This is Sir George Fuller. Connect me with Mr.
Mann, will you?”
He waited a second, and then continued:
”Is that you, Mr. Mann? I want to ask you something. Will you note these three names? The Reverend Vincent Lock, a peddling glazier who is known as 'Waxy,' and a Miss Paines. Have you got them? I wish you would let me know something about them.”
Mr. Minute rose.
”Perhaps you'll let me know, Sir George--” he began, holding out his hand.
”Don't go yet,” replied the commissioner, waving him to his chair again.
”You will obtain all the information you want in a few minutes.”
”But surely he must make inquiries,” said the other, surprised.
Sir George shook his head.
”The curious thing about Saul Arthur Mann is that he never has to make inquiries. That is why he is called 'The Man Who Knows.' He is one of the most remarkable people in the world of criminal investigation,” he went on. ”We tried to induce him to come to Scotland Yard. I am not so sure that the government would have paid him his price. At any rate, he saved me any embarra.s.sment by refusing point-blank.”
The telephone bell rang at that moment, and Sir George lifted the receiver. He took a pencil and wrote rapidly on his pad, and when he had finished he said, ”Thank you,” and hung up the receiver.
”Here is your information, Mr. Minute,” he said. ”The Reverend Vincent Lock, curate in a very poor neighborhood near Manchester, interested in the boy scouts' movement. His brother, George Henry Locke, has had some domestic trouble, his wife running away from him. She is now staying at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, and is visited every day by her brother-in-law, who is endeavoring to induce her to return to her home.