Part 125 (1/2)
”Yes?”
”May I use your telephone?”
”Of course! But--do--you--”
”Where--Oh, there it is!”
He went to it and called up the bureau. Then he said: ”Sir Seymour Portman is speaking from Miss Van Tuyn's sitting-room . . . is that Mr.
Henriques? Please tell me, has that man, Arabian, of whom we spoke just now, called again?”
There was a silence in which Miss Van Tuyn, watching, saw a frown wrinkle deeply Sir Seymour's forehead.
”Ah! Has he gone? Did you get rid of him? . . . How long ago? . . . Only two or three minutes! . . . Do you think he knows I am here? . . . Thank you. I'll be down in a moment.”
He put the receiver back.
”Oh, but don't leave me!” said Miss Van Tuyn distractedly. ”You see, in spite of what you told him he _has_ come!”
”Yes. He has been. He's a determined fellow.”
”He'll never give it up! What can I do?”
”All you can do at present is to remain quietly up here in your comfortable rooms. Leave the rest to me.”
”But if he gets in?”
”He won't. Even if he came upstairs--and he won't be allowed to--he has no key of your outer door. Now I'll go down and leave this note at the bureau. If he comes back and receives it, that will probably decide him to give the thing up. He is counting on the weakness of your will. This note will show him you have made up your mind. By the way”--he fixed his dark eyes on her--”you _have_ made up your mind?”
She blushed up to her hair.
”Oh, yes--yes!”
”Very well. To-morrow I shall go to Scotland Yard. We'll get him out of the country one way or another.”
She accompanied him to the outer door of the apartment. When he had gone out she shut it behind him, and he heard the click of a bolt being pushed home.
Before leaving the hotel Sir Seymour again sought his discreet friend Henriques, to whom he gave Miss Van Tuyn's note.
”So the fellow has been?” he said.
”Yes, Sir Seymour.”
”Did you get rid of him easily?”
”Well, to tell the truth, Sir Seymour, he tried to be obstinate. I think--if you'll excuse me--I certainly think that he was slightly under the influence of drink. Not drunk, you'll understand, not at all as much as that! But still--”
”Yes--yes. If he comes back give him that note. And--do you think it would be wise to give him a hint that any further annoyance might lead to the intervention of the police? The young lady is very much upset and frightened. Do you think you might drop a word or two--at your discretion?”
”I'll manage it, Sir Seymour. Leave it to me!”