Part 13 (1/2)
”That will do, Sillery,” he said to the servant. ”I'll call if I want you.”
As the man went out Despard dropped down upon the sofa. He sat and looked across at his companion with a glance which blended inquiry and concern.
”I've heard only rumors, so far,” he remarked.
Aylmer made a little gesture towards the bookcase, which was still broken but empty.
”I came back unexpectedly last night. I had been discussing a point with the general at dinner and ran across to find a book to prove my contention. I found Landon here, ransacking the bookcase. One volume is gone. He took me unawares and knocked me out. I didn't come to for several hours.”
Despard made an inarticulate exclamation of anger.
”And he escaped, out of Gibraltar?”
”By the _Miramar_, so the police declare. A Spanish tramp, going down the Moroquin coast and stopping first at Tangier.”
”He's gone to kill two birds with one stone,” said Despard. ”And you are pursuing?”
”Naturally,” said Aylmer, in a very matter-of-fact voice.
”And your leave home--Scotland--cub hunting?”
”That goes, of course. Possibly, if ten weeks is insufficient, my secretarys.h.i.+p goes. Perhaps, old chap, even my commission.”
Despard got up with a startled jerk.
”What's that?” he cried fiercely. ”What's that?”
Aylmer's hand made a deprecative motion.
”My duty's plain, isn't it?” he asked.
”No!” retorted Despard. ”If these old women of Commissioners have no more sense than to direct you to keep important books in a simple bookcase in your quarters--”
”Oh, the book?” interrupted Aylmer, placidly. ”Of course, there's the book.”
Despard halted, hesitated, and looked at his friend with curiosity.
”You mean the contents of it? You can't help them getting known?”
Aylmer nodded.
”We must recognize the fact that they are known by whoever buys them, or whoever hired Landon to steal them.”
”Then why worry; why pursue, why start on this wild-goose chase?” He pointed to the great bruise on Aylmer's forehead. ”It's outrageous, with that on you. It's probably dangerous.”
For a moment Aylmer was silent. He stood looking at Despard, and his eyes seemed to express a sort of speculative criticism.
”Landon is my cousin,” he said at last, as if he put the keystone to an argumentative arch.