occurred.
"I should remain patient a little while if I were you," I said."Antonio may return at any moment; he surely cannot have gone far."
"On the contrary, I think he has."
"Why?"
"Well, curiously enough, this afternoon, when I alighted from the Parisexpress and was passing through the buffet at Calais, I caught sight ofa man who strangely resembled him. He turned his head and hurried away.At the moment I failed to recognise the likeness, and not until half anhour later, when the boat was already on its way across to Dover, did Irecollect that he was very like the Professor's faithful Antonio."
I held my breath.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
A FRESH TURN IN AFFAIRS.
Here was the whole affair in danger of being exposed to the police andpublic by this young man's encounter with the Professor's servant! Ifit were exposed, then I should be compelled to give some account ofmyself. It would certainly be difficult to convince the police that Ihad no knowledge of the Professor's death.
"Well," I remarked, "that Antonio should be leaving Calais seemssomewhat curious, but perhaps it may have only been somebody resemblinghim."
"Of course, I'm not quite sure," the young man replied; "but is it notcurious that Miss Greer and the servants are all out? The Professor isalways so very careful of his experiments and the contents of hislaboratory that the house is never left untenanted."
"I've called quite by chance and upon business," I explained. "I'm amotor-car engineer, and I live in Chiswick. My name is Holford."
"Mine's Langton--Leonard Langton," he answered. Then, after a second'shesitation, he added, "Ethelwynn--Miss Greer--is to become my wife.That's why I'm surprised that she hasn't kept the appointment I made."
I was silent. What if I told him of the girl's mysterious death? Whatwould he say? How would he act?
He seemed a smart, active, well-set-up fellow, quick, energetic, with apair of merry grey eyes and a good-natured smile. Indeed, I took to himfrom the first. Yet how dare I divulge a word of what I knew?
"The only thing is to wait," I suggested.
"But if the Professor is in Scotland, as you say, why have you calledthis evening?" he asked, with some little suspicion, I thought.
For the moment I was nonplussed.
"I wondered whether he had returned," was my rather lame reply. "Isimply called on the off-chance of seeing him."
"Was your business of a pressing nature?" he asked, still wondering, Ithink, whether I might not have some connection with thieves who mightbe within. Perhaps he now suspected me of being an accomplice, set towatch outside. My hesitation when he suggested calling the police hadno doubt aroused his suspicion. Besides, I suppose my agitation hadcaused him some surprise, for I was in deadly fear lest the policeshould be called, and should enter there.
The dead girl's lover was a man of strongly marked character, that Icould see. When once he learned the truth I should surely be suspectedof having secret knowledge of the crime!
"Well?" he asked, as we still stood before the closed door, "what shallwe do?"
"Wait," I again suggested, "the Professor is evidently still away. Hemay have sent Antonio across to the Continent upon some business."
"If so, then there are undoubtedly thieves within. Since I've beenwaiting here the light in the small drawing-room overlooking the Parkhas been extinguished--put out, no doubt, immediately I rang. No," hewent on, "we must call the police. Will you go and get a constable--orshall I?"
"You go," I said, in a blank voice. "I--I'll wait here."
I saw that the game was up. His suspicions were aroused, and heintended to take immediate action.
"There's sure to be a policeman along at Clarence Gate," he said; "I'veoften noticed a man on point-duty there. But," he added, suddenlyfacing me and looking straight into my eyes, for the street-lamp shonebrightly upon the spot where we were standing, "tell me, Mr. Holford,have you told me the actual truth?"
"The truth!" I echoed. "Why, of course I have! Here is my card," andI gave him one from my cigarette-case, wherein I always carried them.
He read it eagerly, and in exchange gave me one of his, laughing as hesaid:
"I feared, perhaps, that you might be in association with the meninside. Forgive me for suspecting you, won't you?"
"Of course. I knew you doubted me," I answered, smiling. "I'll remainhere until you return, though, to be frank, I don't see very much causefor alarm."
"I do. There's a mystery here--one which we must fathom. Keep watch.I'll be back in a few moments."
And he left the steps and, turning to the left, disappeared round thecorner.
I stood outside the door, my ears strained to catch the slightest sound.The young man's presence there was indeed an unfortunate contretemps.
In the silence I could hear my own heart thumping. Of a sudden,however, I thought I could detect a sound of movement within. Ilistened attentively. Yes, I was not mistaken, someone was actually inthe hall! What if it were the unknown assassin, returned to the sceneof his crime?
My heart-beats quickened. The dead girl's lover had not been mistaken.The lights had been put out when the person or persons inside weredisturbed by his ring. In a few moments he would be there with thepolice, and the crime would be properly investigated. But what accountcould I myself give of the reason of my call? If I were suspected, thepolice might inquire into my movements during the past few days and gainknowledge of my visits there!
My position was growing to one of great seriousness. Every momentincreased my peril.
Across the narrow road rose the great blank wall of a mews, while in theroom on the first floor above where showed the high, dark windowstretching across nearly the whole frontage of the house, lay huddled, Iknew, the body of the dead Professor.
I was still listening, full of wonder as to who might be lurking in thathouse of death, when, of a sudden, I heard the latch touched, and slowlyand silently the big door opened.
I drew back, prepared for a fight, but next second a cry of amazementescaped my lips when I saw in the darkness of the cautiously-opened doora man's face--the thin, sallow, frightened face of Kershaw Kirk.
"It's I, Holford!" he gasped. "I must get away. Langton must not seeme. Remember you must not breathe a single word of your knowledge ofmyself! Success now depends entirely upon your silence. I will wire anappointment with you to-morrow. Be careful, or you yourself may now besuspected."
"But why not tell the police?" I demanded, barring his way.
"Police be hanged!" he cried impatiently. "Have I not already told you?I have no time to argue. Langton must not see me--he must know nothingof me. A word from you would mean loss incalculable, and all hope ofelucidating the mystery would instantly be at an end. Which way didyoung Langton go?"
"Towards Clarence Gate," I replied almost mechanically, for his suddenappearance there had startled me.
"Good!" he cried; "then I'll go in the opposite direction. Be silent,Holford, and rely upon me. Whatever you may discover, do not betray anysurprise. In this affair you will probably meet with a good deal thatwill surprise you--as it has already surprised me."
"Where's Antonio?" I demanded.
"Gone."
"Abroad?"
"I--well, how can I tell? He's left here. That's all I know," repliedthis mysterious man very lamely.
I sniffed in suspicion.
"Do, I beg of you, tell me more of this affair, Mr. Kirk," I urged,speaking quickly. "If you are really my friend, if you really wish meto assist you, why not instruct me how to act? If you will tell me thetruth, I will keep a still tongue."
"You will be more silent if you remain in ignorance," was his response."Listen! I must get away," and before I could prevent him he had closedthe door quietly behind him. I noticed that he was attired in clothesquite different from his usual habit. Indeed, he was smartly dressed,wearing a black overcoat with a velvet collar, and well-ironed silk hat.
<
br /> "Stay and face Langton," I urged. "Take him into your confidence.Surely no good can be served by this elusiveness."
"You don't know what you're saying, man!" he cried. "Let me pass. I'vebeen listening to all you told the young man. Your story was quite afeasible one. Keep it up, and affect entire ignorance of me. It is theonly way if we are to place our hand upon poor Greer's assassin."
"The proper course for me to pursue, Mr. Kirk, is to--"
"Footsteps! I must go!" he cried hoarsely, in a voice which
The Red Room Page 11
