Part 6 (1/2)

”Funny business?” interrupted T. X., ”not a bit. House and man are quite normal save for these eccentricities. He has announced his intention of spending three months of the year in England and nine months abroad. He is very rich, has no relations, and has a pa.s.sion for power.”

”Then he'll be hung,” said the Chief, rising.

”I doubt it,” said the other, ”people with lots of money seldom get hung. You only get hung for wanting money.”

”Then you're in some danger, T. X.,” smiled the Chief, ”for according to my account you're always more or less broke.”

”A genial libel,” said T. X., ”but talking about people being broke, I saw John Lexman to-day--you know him!”

The Chief Commissioner nodded.

”I've an idea he's rather hit for money. He was in that Roumanian gold swindle, and by his general gloom, which only comes to a man when he's in love (and he can't possibly be in love since he's married) or when he's in debt, I fear that he is still feeling the effect of that rosy adventure.”

A telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply, and T. X.

picked up the receiver. He listened intently.

”A trunk call,” he said over his shoulder to the departing commissioner, ”it may be something interesting.”

A little pause; then a hoa.r.s.e voice spoke to him. ”Is that you, T. X.?”

”That's me,” said the a.s.sistant Commissioner, commonly.

”It's John Lexman speaking.”

”I shouldn't have recognized your voice,” said T. X., ”what is wrong with you, John, can't you get your plot to went?”

”I want you to come down here at once,” said the voice urgently, and even over the telephone T. X. recognized the distress. ”I have shot a man, killed him!”

T. X. gasped.

”Good Lord,” he said, ”you are a silly a.s.s!”

CHAPTER III

In the early hours of the morning a tragic little party was a.s.sembled in the study at Beston Priory. John Lexman, white and haggard, sat on the sofa with his wife by his side. Immediate authority as represented by a village constable was on duty in the pa.s.sage outside, whilst T. X.

sitting at the table with a writing pad and a pencil was briefly noting the evidence.

The author had sketched the events of the day. He had described his interview with the money-lender the day before and the arrival of the letter.

”You have the letter!” asked T. X.

John Lexman nodded.

”I am glad of that,” said the other with a sigh of relief, ”that will save you from a great deal of unpleasantness, my poor old chap. Tell me what happened afterward.”

”I reached the village,” said John Lexman, ”and pa.s.sed through it. There was n.o.body about, the rain was still falling very heavily and indeed I didn't meet a single soul all the evening. I reached the place appointed about five minutes before time. It was the corner of Eastbourne Road on the station side and there I found Va.s.salaro waiting. I was rather ashamed of myself at meeting him at all under these conditions, but I was very keen on his not coming to the house for I was afraid it would upset Grace. What made it all the more ridiculous was this infernal pistol which was in my pocket banging against my side with every step I took as though to nudge me to an understanding of my folly.”

”Where did you meet Va.s.salaro?” asked T. X.