United States or Heard Island and McDonald Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"By the merest fluke. I noticed it when I was making enquiries at the Police Office on quite different lines, but you can imagine that I switched off my other enquiries pretty quick when Superintendent Sutherland calmly advanced the theory that the ring was stolen when Rattar's house was entered by some one unknown on the very night of the murder!"
If I disliked cigarettes, knew smoking was bad for me, and stood in danger of being fined if I was caught doing it, why should I smoke? I can see no point whatever in Rattar's taking the smallest share even in diverting the course of justice by a hair's breadth. He and you and I have to all appearances identical interests in the matter."
And in the third place, I gather that you are if I may say so, a gentleman of unusual discretion." Again he smiled pleasantly, and again Mr. Rattar's features relaxed. "Finally," added Carrington, "I thought it long odds that you were either actually my employer or acting for him, and therefore I should be giving nothing away by telling you my business.
The book was brought and this time he had about ten minutes to himself before the clerk entered again. "Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland to see you, sir," he announced. This announcement seemed to set the lawyer thinking hard. Then in his abrupt way he said: "Show him in." Mr. Rattar's second visitor was of a different type. Mr.
"This is the first I've heard of that!" cried Ned. "It was the first I had, but it led me straight to Rattar's house and a long heart to heart talk with his housemaid. That was when I collected that extraordinary mixed bag of information which I was wondering yesterday whether to believe or not.
"Chiefly from Rattar's housemaid, a very excellent but somewhat high-strung and imaginative young woman, and how much to believe of what she told me I honestly don't know. And the more one can believe, the worse the puzzle gets! However, there is one statement which I hope to be able to check. It may throw some light on the lady's veracity generally.
Rattar's opinion," observed the superintendent. "I thought Mr. Rattar had formed no opinion yet," said Cromarty. "No more I have," grunted the lawyer. The superintendent looked a trifle perplexed. "Before Mr.
He fetched the paper and Carrington after looking at it for a few minutes, remarked: "I see here an advertisement stating that Mr. Rattar lost a ring." "Yes," said the Superintendent, "that was a funny thing because it's not often a gentleman loses a ring off his hand. I've half wondered since whether it was connected with a story of Mr. Rattar's maid that his house had been broken into."
"Good so far, but the next riddle wasn't of the simple kind or else I'm even a bigger ass than I endeavour to look! What was the man's game?" "Have you spotted it yet?" Carrington shook his head. "Mr. Simon Rattar's game is the toughest proposition in the way of puzzles I've ever struck. While I'm at it I'll just tell you one or two other small features of that first interview."
Before he entered, he took off his hat and turned up the brim again, and his manner when he tapped at the door of the manageress' room was perfectly sedate. He let it appear, however, that he had some slight matter on his mind. "What is the name of Mr. Rattar's head clerk?" he enquired. "An oldish, prim looking man, with side whiskers." "Oh, that will be Mr. Ison," said the manageress.
Word Of The Day