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Updated: May 22, 2025
The professor had evidently persuaded the inspector to let him carry out this investigation in his own way. "Of course, a man has been killed," he went on, "but it wasn't Parrish, I fancy. He lived in Parrish's chambers; was a lonely man with a hobby, and if the people who saw him about liked to think his name was Parrish, well, it didn't trouble him.
He cast a panic-striken glance around him. But Mary Trevert held him fast. "You didn't finish what you were saying about Mr. Parrish, Mr. Jeekes," she said impassively. The secretary made no sign. But he looked a trifle sullen. "I don't think you realize, Mr. Jeekes," she said, "that other people besides myself are keenly interested in the motives for Mr. Parrish's suicide.
She stepped forward and, putting her two hands on the young man's shoulders, swung him round to face her. "I'm as poor as ever I was," she said, "for Hartley Parrish's money is not for me ..." "Mary!" exclaimed the young man joyfully. "Robin Greve," cried the girl, "do you mean to tell me you'd stand there thinking I'd accept money made like that ..." But now she was in his arms.
Frightened faces were framed in the doorway. Outside there was the sound of a woman whimpering. A tall, dark young man in a tail coat came in quickly. He stopped short when he saw the solemn faces of the group at the desk. It was Parrish's man, Jay. He stepped forward to the desk and in a frightened sort of way peered at the body as it lay on the floor.
He told me last night that everything would be finished this week. He seemed quite satisfied." The Inspector paused to make a note. Then he thrust a hand into the side-pocket of his tunic and produced Hartley Parrish's letter. "This," he said, eyeing the girl as he handed her the letter, "may throw some light on the affair!"
Some of the tenants did not remember there was such a name on the door. I have interviewed the agents who receive the rent, and they tell me that until about three years ago they received Parrish's rent by check, always sent from Windsor, and on a bank at Windsor; but since then they have received it in cash, promptly, and sent by messenger boy, the receipt always being waited for.
And, as I know from experience, unless you are acquainted with the turns in the path, it is very easy to get off it in the dark, especially in the rosery, and go blundering on to the flower-beds. And I'll tell you something else about the murderer. He or she was of small stature not much above five foot six in height. The upward diagonal course of the bullet through Parrish's heart shows that ..."
"What's all this about blackmail being levied from Holland?" Then Robin Greve told him of the letters written on the slatey-blue paper and of their effect upon Parrish, and of the letter headed, "Elias van der Spyck & Co., General Importers, Rotterdam," which had lain on the desk in the library when Parrish's dead body had been found. Manderton nodded gloomily.
"Her recognition of you was too prompt to carry conviction under the circumstances," he answered. "The boy, who is in an office in Gray's Inn, might have met you together. I have no doubt he did; but since the woman had no business there, and if my theory were right, was concealed in Parrish's chambers at the time, she could not have seen you, except in the way I explained to her. Poor soul!
Parrish's life which an enemy might have made use of to drive him to his death?" Her manner was so intense that Mr. Jeekes quite lost his self-composure. He clutched at his pince-nez and readjusted them upon his nose to cover his embarrassment. The secretary was not used to gazing at beautiful women whose expressive features showed as clearly as this the play of the emotions.
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