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People are so absolutely without consciences." "Is there a bull here?" cried Gimblet. He was quivering with excitement. "Goodness gracious, I hope not!" said Lady Ruth. "Do you see any cattle? I can't bear those long-horned Highlanders!" "No," said Gimblet. "I thought perhaps But what is the statue? The design, surely, is rather a strange one for the place."
As it was what I expressly desired should be done, after yesterday's prayer, I more than readily begged him to read it aloud. He did so; and Brother Gimblet listened with a crabbed smile. 'It was in a good hour that I came here, he said, wrinkling up his eyes.
I think I'll take a little stroll through the grounds," he added, "and then back to Lady Ruth Worsfold's house, and get a bath and a change." "I shall see you at dinner-time," said Ashiel. "I am dining at the cottage. Au revoir till then." Gimblet went out of the front door, and proceeded to make a tour of the Castle buildings.
Witness the heaped shelves at Scotland Yard. "Perhaps you put it down in the hall?" he suggested. "I am sure I had it when I came in here," she repeated in an agitated voice. "But it might be worth while just to look in the hall," she added doubtfully, and moved towards the door. Gimblet opened it for her gladly; but she came to a standstill in the doorway.
"I am afraid I have been a nuisance, and disturbed you to no purpose. You must forgive my mistake. But now I will not keep you any longer. Good-bye." She showed no further disposition to loiter; and Gimblet rang the bell for the lift and saw her depart with a good deal of satisfaction.
It was the work of an instant to look inside, but almost quicker came the conviction that it was useless to do so. He was not mistaken. The envelope was empty. Gimblet stared at it for one moment in blank dismay. Then he strode to the door and shouted for Higgs. "Did you notice," he asked him, "whether the envelope Lord Ashiel gave you for me was fastened, or was it open as this one is?"
A little farther, and Gimblet heard the distant gurgling of a burn; presently they were picking their way between moss-covered boulders on the edge of a rocky gully.
All was silent there, and the empty room displayed no sign of its nocturnal visitors. Gimblet did not hesitate. He went straight to the clock and pulled open the door. The black interior was as empty and bare as when he had previously examined it, but he betrayed neither astonishment nor doubt as to his next action. Stooping down he ran his hand over the painted wooden flooring.
There was nothing more. Gimblet strode out of the Club and drove to New Scotland Yard. The Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department was in, and received him gladly. Gimblet held out the paper he had carried off from the Club and pointed to the news of the tragedy. "Is all this correct?" he asked. "Yes, yes, indeed," replied Mr. Beech, the superintendent.
"So I heard," said Gimblet "You talk of being called as a witness, Lady Ruth. Do you know anything about the case? Where were you when the shot was fired?" "Oh no," she said, "I shouldn't have anything to tell, but I don't suppose that will matter. They'll twist and turn my words till I find myself saying I saw him do it with my own eyes.
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