Part 29 (1/2)
”Well,” said Carrington, ”if you actually are my employer and we both lay our cards on the table, there's much to be gained, and--if I may say so--really nothing to be lost. I won't give you away if you won't give me.”
The lawyer's nod seemed to imply emphatic a.s.sent, and the other went on:
”I'll keep you informed of everything I'm doing and anything I may happen to discover, and you can give me very valuable information as to what precisely is known already. Otherwise, of course, one could hardly exchange confidences so freely. Frankly then, you engaged me to come down here?”
Even then Simon's caution seemed to linger for an instant. The next he answered briefly but decidedly:
”Yes.”
”Very well, now to business. I got a certain amount of literature on the case before I left town, and Miss Peterkin gave me some very valuable additions in the shape of the accounts in the local papers. Are there any facts known to you or the police beyond those I have read?”
Simon considered the question and then shook his head.
”None that I can think of, and I fear the local police will be able to add no information that can a.s.sist you.”
”They are the usual not too intelligent country bobbies, I suppose?”
”Quite so,” said Simon.
”In that case,” asked Mr. Carrington, still in his easy voice, but with a quick turn of his eyegla.s.s towards the lawyer, ”why was no outside a.s.sistance called in at once?”
For a moment Simon Rattar's satisfaction with his visitor seemed to be diminished. He seemed, in fact, a little disconcerted, and his reply again became little more than a grunt.
”Quite satisfied with them,” seemed to be the reading of his answer.
”Well,” said Carrington, ”no doubt you knew best, Mr. Rattar.”
His eyes thoughtfully followed the smoke of his cigarette upwards for a moment, and then he said:
”That being so, my first step had better be to visit Keldale House and see whether it is still possible to find any small point the local professionals have overlooked.”
Mr. Rattar seemed to disapprove of this.
”Nothing to discover,” said he. ”And they will know what you have come about.”
Mr. Carrington smiled.
”I think, Mr. Rattar, that, on the whole, my appearance provokes no great amount of suspicion.”
”Your appearance, no,” admitted Simon, ”but--”
”Well, if I go to Keldale armed with a card of introduction from you, to make enquiry about the shootings, I think I can undertake to turn the conversation on to other matters without exciting suspicion.”
”Conversation with whom?” enquired the lawyer sceptically.
”I had thought of Mr. Bisset, the butler.”
”Oh--” began Mr. Rattar with a note of surprise, and then pulled himself up.