Part 34 (2/2)

There is that big burglary at Lord Emden's, and the case of the woman whose body was found in the river lock at Peyton, and half a dozen other cases, all important in their way. There has been quite an epidemic of crime lately, as you know, Mr. Crewe. I don't seem to get a minute to myself these times.”

”Rolfe,” said Crewe drily, ”you protest too much. You don't suppose that after coming over here to see you that I can be deceived by such talk?”

Rolfe flushed at these uncompromising words, but before he could speak Crewe proceeded in a milder tone.

”I don't blame you a bit for trying to put me off. It's all part of the game. We're rivals, in a sense, and you are quite right not to lose sight of that fact. But as a detective, Rolfe, your methods lack polish.

Really, I blush for them. You might have known that I came over here to see you to-night because I had an important object in view, and you should have tried to find out what it was before playing your own cards,--and such cards, too! You're sadly lacking in finesse, Rolfe.

You'd never make a chess player; your concealed intentions are too easily discovered. You must try not to be so transparent if you want to succeed in your profession.”

Crewe delivered his reproof with such good humour that Rolfe stared at him, as if unable to make out what his visitor was driving at.

”I don't know what you are talking about, Mr. Crewe,” he said at length.

”Oh, yes, you do. You know I'm speaking about your latest move in the Riversbrook case, which you've been so busy with of late. And I've come to tell you in a friendly way that once more you're on the wrong track.”

”What do you mean?” asked Rolfe quickly.

”Why, Princes Gate, of course,” replied Crewe cheerily. ”You don't suppose that a fine-looking young man like yourself could be seen in the neighbourhood of Princes Gate without causing a flutter among feminine hearts there, do you?”

”So the servants have been talking, have they?” muttered Rolfe.

”They have and they haven't. But that's beside the point. What I want to say is that you're on the wrong track in suspecting Mrs. Holymead, and I strongly advise you to drop your inquiries if you don't want to get yourself into hot water. She's as innocent of the murder of Sir Horace Fewbanks as Birchill is, but you cannot afford to make a false shot in the case of a lady of her social standing, as you did with a criminal like Birchill.”

At this rebuke Rolfe gave way to irritation.

”Look here, Mr. Crewe, I'll thank you to mind your own business,” he said. ”It's got nothing to do with you where I make inquiries. I'll have you remember that! I don't interfere with you, and I won't have you interfering with me.”

”But I'm interfering only for your own good, man! What do you suppose I'm doing it for? I tell you you're riding for a very bad fall in suspecting Mrs. Holymead and shadowing her.”

Crewe's plain words were an echo of a secret fear which Rolfe had entertained from the time his suspicions were directed towards Mrs.

Holymead. But he was not going to allow Crewe to think he was alarmed.

”If I'm making inquiries about Mrs. Holymead, it's because I have ample justification for doing so,” he said stiffly.

”And I tell you that you have not.”

”Prove it!” exclaimed Rolfe defiantly.

Crewe produced from his pocket a revolver and a lady's handkerchief, and handed them to Rolfe without speaking.

Rolfe's embarra.s.sment was almost equal to his astonishment as he examined the articles. In the handkerchief with its missing corner, he speedily recognised something for which he had searched in vain. He had never confided to Crewe the discovery of the missing corner in the dead man's hand, and therefore the production of the handkerchief by Crewe considerably embarra.s.sed him. He longed to ask Crewe how he had obtained possession of the handkerchief, but he could not trust his voice to frame the question without betraying his feelings, so he picked up the revolver and examined it closely. Then he put it down and again gave his attention to the handkerchief, bending his head over it so that Crewe should not see his face.

”You do not seem very astonished at my finds, Rolfe,” said Crewe quizzically. ”Perhaps you've seen these articles before?”

”No, I haven't,” said Rolfe, still avoiding his visitor's eye.

”Well, the torn handkerchief is not exactly new to you,” said Crewe.

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