Part 17 (1/2)
”Do you think--” she began
He shook her hand warht!” he said ”No questions, please I sha'n't expect you at the office at the usual time to-morrow, at any rate Telephone or run around if you've anything to tell me”
The taxicab disappeared round the corner of the street Miss Broas standing still upon the pavement with the latchkey in her hand
It was afternoon before the inquest on the body of Austen Abbott, and there was gathered together in Letty Shaw's parlor a curiously assorted little group of people There was Miss Shaw herself--or rather what seehost of herself--and her mother; Lady Mary and Sir William Trencham; Peter Ruff and Violet Brown--and Mr John Dory The eyes of all of them were fixed upon Peter Ruff, as the latest arrival He stood in thecomplacently down at his well-creased trousers
”Lady Mary,” he said, ”and Miss Shaw, I know that you are both anxious for me to explain why I ask you to meet me here this afternoon, and why I also requested e of the case against Captain Sotherst, to be present I will tell you”
Mr Dory nodded, a little i very definite to say,” he reeneral discussion of this matter until after the inquest I must warn you that so far as I, personally, am concerned, I must absolutely decline to allude to the subject at all
It would bedefinite to say,” Peter Ruff declared, mildly
Lady Mary's eyes flashed with hope--Letty Shaw leaned forward in her chair hite, drawn face
”Let it be understood,” Peter Ruff said, with a slight note of gravity creeping into his tone, ”that I aent of Lady Mary Sotherst I am paid and employed by her My sole object is on her behalf, therefore, to discover proof of the innocence of Captain Sotherst I take it, however,” he added, turning towards the drooping figure in the easy-chair, ”that Miss Shaw is as anxious to have the truth known”
”Of course! Of course!” she murmured
”In France,” Peter Ruff continued, ”there is a somewhat curious custom, which, despite a certain theatricality, yet has its points The scene of a crime is visited, and its events, so far as may be, reconstructed Let us suppose for aof the sort”
Letty Shaw shrank back in her chair Her thin white fingers were gripping its sides Her eyes sees
”It is too--awful!” she faltered
”Madaood as to huo to the front door, stand upon the mat--so? You are Captain Sotherst--you have just entered I am Austen Abbott You, Miss Shaw, have just ordered me from the room You see, I move toward the door I open it--so Miss Shaw,” he added, turning swiftly towards her, ”once more will you assure ht, with the exception of your domestic servant, is present now?”
”Yes,” sheto a door on the left--”who is in that room?”
They had all crowded after hi around hier never wavered--it was pointing steadily towards that closed door a few feet to the left
Suddenly Letty Shaw rushed past theo in!” she cried ”What business is it of his?”
She stood with her back to the door, her arms outstretched like a cross
Her cheeks were livid Her eyes see from her head