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It did not take more than five minutes to cover the distance between Sunnington Crescent and the modest little house where Captain Morrison and his daughter lived; so in a very brief time Cleek had the satisfaction of interviewing both.
But, as virtue is, on most excellent authority, its own reward, he had to be satisfied with the possession of it, since neither Narkom nor Cleek was there to meet him. But the reason for this defection was made manifest when Miss Morrison placed before him a telegram which had arrived some ten minutes earlier and read as follows: "Unavoidably delayed. Be with you at nine-thirty. Ask Mr.
"Go on by all means," replied Cleek. "I fancy you know very well that there is nothing you might ask of me that I would not at least attempt to do, dear chap." "Thanks very much. Well then, the Major has come, my dear Cleek, to ask you to help in unravelling a puzzle of singular and mystifying interest.
"A highly satisfactory termination for the lady," commented Cleek. "One could hardly have expected that from a man so hopelessly unprincipled as you represent him to have always been. But there's a bit of good in even the devil, we are told." "Oh, be sure that he didn't marry her from any principle of honour, my dear sir," replied the Major.
"To loot all the temples erected to Buddha, destroy the images, and make a bonfire of all the sacred relics," finished Cleek himself. "I rarely forget history, Miss Lorne, especially when it is such recent history as that memorable Buddhist rising at Trincomalee.
And when does it happen in their case, during the course of the show, or when there is nobody about but those connected with it?" "Oh, always during the course of the entertainment, sir. Indeed, it has never happened at any other time never at all." "Oho!" said Cleek. "Then it is only when they are dressed and made up for the performance, eh? Hum-m-m! I see."
And the dog, feeling its loneliness or, possibly, famishing, for he had given it not a morsel of food since he found it, howled and howled until the din became unbearable. "Monsieur, I wish you would silence that beast or else feed it," said madame pettishly. "The howling of the wretched thing gets on my nerves. Give it some food for pity's sake." "Not I," said Cleek.
"Oh, thank God! thank God!" the old man said; then sat down suddenly and dropped his face between his hands and was still for a long time. When he looked up again his eyes were red, but his lips were smiling. "If you only knew what a relief it is," he said. "If you only knew how much I have suffered, Mr. Cleek.
Narkom, equally clearly. "So long." Then the door closed sharply, and Cleek mounted the stairs to his room, whistling softly to himself meanwhile, just as Borkins rounded the corner of the dining-room door and acknowledged his friendly nod with one equally friendly. A smile played about the corners of the man's mouth, and his eyes narrowed, as he watched Cleek disappear up the stairs.
It began, no one knows why nor how, two weeks ago, when, without hint or warning, he killed the person he loved best in all the world the chevalier's eldest son. Doubtless you have heard of that?" "Yes," said Cleek. "But what you are now telling me sheds a new light upon the matter.
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