Part 20 (1/2)
”Girls,” he said, ”there has been some trouble here. Go and wait upstairs, Lenora, or sit in the hall. Laura, you had better telephone to the police station, and for a doctor. That's right, isn't it, Inspector?”
”Yes!” the latter a.s.sented thoughtfully.
Lenora, white to the lips, staggered a few feet back into the hall. Laura set her teeth and lingered.
”Is that Ross?” she asked.
”It's his body,” Quest replied. ”He's been murdered here, he and the Salvation Army girl who was to come this morning for her cheque.”
Laura turned away, half dazed.
”I'd have trusted Ross with my life,” Quest continued, ”but he must have been alone in the house when the girl came. Do you suppose it was the usual sort of trouble?”
Inspector French stooped down and picked up the paper-weight. Across it was stamped the name of Sanford Quest.
”This yours, Quest?”
”Of course it is,” Quest answered. ”Everything in the room is mine.”
”The girl would fight to defend herself,” the Inspector remarked slowly, ”but she could never strike a man such a blow as your valet died from.”
Once more he stooped and picked up a small clock. It had stopped at eleven-fifteen. He looked at it thoughtfully.
”Quest,” he said, ”I'll have to ask you a question.”
”Why not?” Quest replied, looking quickly up.
”Where were you at eleven-fifteen?”
”On tower Number 10 of the New York Central, sc.r.a.pping for my life,” Quest answered grimly. ”I've reason to remember it.”
Something in the Inspector's steady gaze seemed to inspire the criminologist suddenly with a new idea. He came a step forward, a little frown upon his forehead.
”Say, French,” he exclaimed, ”you don't--you don't suspect me of this?”
French was unmoved. He looked Quest in the eyes.
”I don't know,” he said.
CHAPTER VI
ON THE RACK
1.
For the moment a new element had been introduced into the horror of the little tableau. All eyes were fixed upon Quest, who had listened to the Inspector's dubious words with a supercilious smile upon his lips.
”Perhaps,” he suggested, ”you would like to ask me a few questions?”