United States or Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He was not surprised, for members made no scruple of reading their papers or writing their letters in the House, but he was vexed to see that he had not gripped them closer. He went on, but that ever-circulating paper had half his attention now. He noticed Kilshaw come in with it and press it on Sir Robert's notice.
Did you say you'd known the deceased before he ?" "If I'm called at the inquest, I shall tell all I know," said Kilshaw, rising. "It's not much." "Happen to know if he had any relations, sir?" "H'm. He was a widower, I believe." "Children?" "Really," said Mr. Kilshaw, with a faint smile, "I don't know." And he escaped from pertinacious Mr. Dawson with some alacrity.
Perfect openness and candour about them by all means!" "I am quite serious. One never knows how much harm may be done by concealing them." "Got a murder on your conscience?" "Oh, not exactly," sighed Eleanor. "You're like that chap Kilshaw. He's always talking as if he had something awful up his sleeve." "Perhaps he has."
"I went out of town to avoid this infernal row to-day, and am only just back." Dawson smiled discreetly. He could understand that the proceedings of the day would not attract Mr. Kilshaw. "But is it true," Kilshaw went on eagerly, "that Mr. Benham has been murdered?" "Well, it looks like it, sir," and Dawson gave a full account of the circumstances. "And the motive?" asked Kilshaw.
Norburn would be very pleased to run your factory as a State work-shop for two pound a week." "And pickings," added Mr. Kilshaw, with scornful emphasis. A third gentleman, who was sitting near in the large bow-window of the Central Club, an elderly man, with short-clipped white hair and a pleasant face, joined in the talk. "Norburn? Why, is that the fellow I tried? Is he in Medland's government?"
The rioters, after an instant, broke the barricade and came out, one by one, timidly making for the spot. "Here," whispered Kilshaw to Dick Derosne, "you lift his head. He won't want to see me," and he drew back behind the wounded man.
Kilshaw was cool and handy in his answers, but, Lord love you! his game came out pretty plain. A monkey! You don't give a man a monkey unless there's value received! So people saw, and Mr. Kilshaw looked a bit uncomfortable when he caught Medland's eye. He looked at him like that," and Mr. Duncombe assumed the finest wronged-hero glance in his repertory.
Kilshaw was drinking a glass of brandy and soda-water. He jumped up, glass in hand, and, going to the window, bowed to the angry mob and drank a toast to his own success before their eyes. Mr. Todd's gross bulk pushed its way to the front. "Come down here," he shouted, "and talk to us, if you dare!" Kilshaw smilingly shook his head. "Three cheers for Sir Robert!" he cried.
"It doesn't surprise me," he said. "I knew all this. I was in Mr. Benyon's confidence." "Perhaps you can tell us how he lived?" hazarded the Superintendent, with a shrewd look. Mr. Kilshaw looked doubtful. "The inquest is fixed for to-morrow. The more we know now, the less it will be necessary to protract it."
"But, Heseltine, wasn't this man Benham the fellow Medland had a sort of shindy with at that flower-show?" "Yes, he was. Kilshaw seemed to know all about him." "He was talking to Miss Medland." "And the Premier had her away from him in no time. Queer start, Sir John?" "Oh, well, he seems to have been a loose fellow, and I suppose was murdered for the money he had on him.
Word Of The Day