United States or Slovenia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I suppose you've heard all about it?" said Cotherstone, after an awkward silence. "Aye!" replied Mallalieu, drily. "Aye, I've heard." Cotherstone looked round. There was no one near him, but he dropped his voice to a whisper. "So long as nobody but him knew," he muttered, giving Mallalieu another side glance, "so long as he hadn't said aught to anybody and I don't think he had we're safe."
For Kitely sat straight up and looked the junior partner squarely in the face. "Better not, Mr. Cotherstone!" he said, with a grin that showed his yellow teeth. "You can't very well choke the life out of me in your own office, can you? You couldn't hide my old carcase as easily as you and Mallalieu hid those Building Society funds, you know. So be calm!
"The inquest on Stoner is tomorrow," replied Cotherstone. "You be there and see and hear what happens." All of Highmarket population that could cram itself into the Coroner's court was there next day when the adjourned inquest on the clerk's death was held.
Talk he did, and they listened and Cotherstone had the satisfaction of seeing that they went away duly impressed with all that he had said to them. He went back to his cell from the room in which this interview had taken place congratulating himself on his ability. "I shall be out of this, and all'll be clear, a week today!" he assured himself. "We'll see where that fool of a Mallalieu is by then!
For it was one of Cotherstone's greatest joys in life to bring folk to his house and watch the effect which his pretty daughter had on them, and he was rewarded now in seeing that the young man from London evidently applauded his friend's choice and paid polite tribute to Lettie's charm. "And what might you have been doing with Mr. Brereton since he got down yesterday?" asked Cotherstone.
The two partners appreciated Stoner, and they had gradually increased his salary until it reached the sum of two pounds twelve shillings and sixpence per week. In their opinion a young single man ought to have done very well on that: Mallalieu and Cotherstone had both done very well on less when they were clerks in that long vanished past of which they did not care to think.
A loud laugh from some corner of the room broke the silence, and the waiter, a shrewd fellow who saw how things were, gave Cotherstone a look. "Come into the small parlour, Mr. Cotherstone," he whispered. "Nobody in there you'll be more comfortable, sir." "All right, then," responded Cotherstone. He glared once more at the company around him, and his defiance suddenly broke out in another fashion.
Cotherstone, who had been lounging forward, warming his hands at the fire, suddenly sat straight up in his chair. His face, always sharp seemed to grow sharper as he turned to his visitor with a questioning look. "Since what?" he demanded. "Since I first saw you and Mr. Mallalieu," replied Kitely. "As I say, you've forgotten. But I haven't."
That's the second time he's been here since he came to the town. He called here a day or two after he first took that house from Mr. Cotherstone to cash a draft for his quarter's pension. He told me then who he was. Do you know?" "Not in the least," replied Mallalieu, telling the lie all the more readily because he had been fully prepared for the question to which it was an answer.
Put safely away, of course, while you were doing your time. Let's see it was a Building Society that you defrauded, wasn't it? Mallalieu was treasurer, and you were secretary. Yes I remember now. The amount was two thous " Cotherstone made a sudden exclamation and a sharp movement both checked by an equally sudden change of attitude and expression on the part of the ex-detective.
Word Of The Day