Part 29 (1/2)

”Just so,” said Simms. ”Have you any family?”

”Nope.”

”I beg your pardon.”

”No.”

”I thought you said nope--my mistake.”

”Not a bit, I did say nope--it's short for no.”

”_Short_ for no--I see, just so.”

Cavendish interposed with an air of interest.

”How would you spell that word?” asked he. Jones resented Cavendish somehow.

”I don't know,” said he, ”this isn't a spelling bee. N-o-p-e I suspect.

You gentlemen have undertaken to question me on behalf of the family as to my ident.i.ty, I think we had better stick to that point.”

”Just so,” said Simms, ”precisely--”

”Excuse me,” said the Duke of Melford, ”I think if Mr. er--Jones wishes to prove his ident.i.ty as Mr. Jones he will admit that his actions will help. Now Lord Rochester was a very, shall we say, fastidious person, quiet in his actions.”

”Oh, was he,” said Jones, ”that's news.”

”Quiet, that is to say, in his movements--let it stand at that. Now my friend Collins said to me something about the eating of a doc.u.ment--”

Jones bristled. ”Collins had no right to tell you that,” said he, ”I told him that privately. When did he tell you that?”

”When I called, just after his interview with you--he did not say it in anyway offensively. In fact he seemed to admire you for your--energy and so forth.”

”Did you, in fact, eat a doc.u.ment?” asked Simms, with an air of bland interest.

”I did--and saved a very nasty situation, _and_ a million of money.”

”What was the doc.u.ment?” asked Cavendish.

”A bill of exchange.”

”Now may I ask why you did that?” queried Simms.

”No, you mayn't,” replied Jones, ”it's a private affair affecting the honour of another person.”

”Quite so,” said Simms, ”but just one more question. Did you hear a voice telling you to--er--eat this paper?”

”Yes.”

”What sort of voice was it?”