United States or Israel ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Rattar had advised him to keep away from these parts, and for choice to go abroad. I need hardly ask whether you consider that sound advice to give a suspected man." "Seems to me nearly as rotten advice as he gave Miss Farmond." "Exactly. So when I heard that Miss Farmond had flown and discovered she had paid a visit to Mr. Rattar the previous day, I guessed who had given her the advice."
"Well, if I go to Keldale armed with a card of introduction from you, to make enquiry about the shootings, I think I can undertake to turn the conversation on to other matters without exciting suspicion." "Conversation with whom?" enquired the lawyer sceptically. "I had thought of Mr. Bisset, the butler." "Oh " began Mr. Rattar with a note of surprise, and then pulled himself up.
That's what made the master say it couldna have been a burglar at all, or how did he snib the window after he went out again?" "Then Mr. Rattar didn't believe it was a burglar?" "N no, sir," said Mary, a little reluctantly. "Was anything stolen?" "No, sir; that was another funny thing. But it must have been a burglar!" "What about the other windows, and the doors?
"In the first place, there is no object in your going out to Keldale House, so I think you had better not. In the second place, you had better call on Mr. Rattar first thing to-morrow and consult him about any point of business that strikes you as a sufficient reason for coming so far to see him.
Rattar was not altogether surprised by the appearance of this visitor. The agreeable stranger began by explaining very frankly that he thought of renting a place for next season where he could secure good fishing and a little shooting, and wondered if any of the properties Mr. Rattar was agent for would suit him. Simon grunted and waited for this overture to develop.
"I am allowed to incur expense," continued the other, "up to a certain figure, which is so handsome that it gives me practically a free hand, so far as that is concerned. On the other hand, the arrangement entails certain difficulties which I daresay you, Mr. Rattar, as a lawyer, and especially as a Procurator Fiscal accustomed to investigate cases of crime, will readily understand."
There was something both in his voice and in his eye as he said this that was not quite like the usual Simon Rattar. Mary began to feel a sympathetic thrill. "Did you look out of the window, sir?" she asked in a hushed voice. Her master nodded and pursed his lips. "But you didn't see him, sir?" "No," said he. "Who could it have been, sir?"
That glance seemed to have subdued her spirit. "I am sorry I have bothered you," she said as she went. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Rattar took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow and his neck. And then he fell to work again upon the recent records of the firm.
She ended by saying not a word, and waiting to see what happened when the master came home. He returned as usual in time for a cup of tea. She heard Mr. Rattar come into the hall, and then, quite distinctly this time, she heard overhead a dull sound, a kind of gentle thud.
And finally, get back to London by the first train after you have seen Mr. Rattar." "Then aren't you working with old Simon?" enquired Sir Malcolm. "Oh, in a sense, I am," said Carrington carelessly, "but I daresay you have found him yourself an arbitrary, meddlesome old boy, and I like to be independent." "By Gad, so do I," the baronet agreed cordially.
Word Of The Day