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Updated: June 29, 2025
There stood the easy-chair in which he had left Elphick; there, close by it, but pushed aside, as if by a hurried hand, was the little table with its spirit case, its syphon, its glass, in which stale liquid still stood; there was the novel, turned face downwards; there, upon the novel, was Elphick's pipe. But the rest of the room was in dire confusion.
Spargo, glancing at Mr. Elphick, saw that he was deeply interested. The elderly barrister took him literally by the button-hole. "My dear sir!" he said. "You saw this poor fellow? Lying dead in the third entry down Middle Temple Lane! The third entry, eh?" "Yes," replied Spargo, simply. "I saw him. It was the third entry." "Singular!" said Mr. Elphick, musingly.
"For some time there's been complaints about the music in church. Of course I'm quite sure Mr. Elphick does wonders, and the ladies of the choir are excellent er gifted ... I'm quite sure. But the harmonium it's very old and quite a lot of the notes won't play ... and the bellows ... Mr.
"Guardian," he said, "why have you or Mr. Cardlestone given this man these cheques and securities? What hold has he on you?" Old Cardlestone began to whimper afresh; Elphick turned a troubled face on his ward. "He he threatened to accuse us of the murder of Marbury!" he faltered. "We we didn't see that we had a chance."
The proprietor and the editor looked at each other. Their faces wore the expression of men thinking on the same lines and arriving at the same conclusion. And the proprietor suddenly turned on Spargo with a sharp interrogation: "You think then " Spargo nodded. "I think that Mr. Septimus Elphick is the Elphick, and that Breton is the young Maitland of whom Mrs. Gutch has been talking," he answered.
Spargo's mind acted quickly. Knowing what he now knew, from his extraordinary dealings with Mother Gutch, he had no doubt whatever that Miss Baylis had come to see Mr. Elphick come, of course, to tell Mr. Elphick that he, Spargo, had visited her that morning, and that he was on the track of the Maitland secret history.
Elphick. "The curiosity of the modern pressman is insatiable." Spargo stiffened. "I have no curiosity, Mr. Elphick," he said. "I am charged by my paper to investigate the circumstances of the death of the man who was found in Middle Temple Lane, and, if possible, to track his murderer, and " Mr. Elphick laughed slightly and waved his hand. "My good young gentleman!" he said.
Let me have a word with you as many words as you please. I implore you!" Spargo made a fine pretence of hesitation. "If I stay," he said, at last, "it will only be on the strict condition that you answer and answer truly whatever questions I like to ask you. Otherwise " He made another move to the door, and again Mr. Elphick laid beseeching hands on him. "Stay!" he said.
There was another charwoman, armed with pails and buckets, outside Cardlestone's door, into which she was just fitting a key. It was evident to Spargo that she knew Breton, for she smiled at him as she opened the door. "I don't think Mr. Cardlestone'll be in, sir," she said. "He's generally gone out to breakfast at this time him and Mr. Elphick goes together." "Just see," said Breton.
"I'm coming just now." He motioned the lad away, and turned to Elphick. "I shall have to go," he said. "I may be kept. Now, Mr. Elphick, can I come to see you tomorrow morning?" "Yes, yes, tomorrow morning!" replied Elphick eagerly. "Tomorrow morning, certainly. At eleven eleven o'clock. That will do?" "I shall be here at eleven," said Spargo. "Eleven sharp."
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