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Updated: May 1, 2025
"What for?" the man demanded. "I want you to come inside for a moment," Quest repeated softly. "Unlock the door, please, take the key off your bunch and come inside." The man hesitated, but all the time his fingers were fumbling with the keys. Quest's lips continued to move. The warder opened the door and entered.
"I shall have to ask you to excuse me for a moment," he said, "while I ring up Number 10 signal tower. If Mr. Quest's story receives corroboration, the matter is at an end. Where shall I find a telephone?" "In every room in the house," Quest answered shortly. "There is one outside in the passage." The Inspector left the room almost immediately. The Professor crossed to Quest's side.
Quest's eye wandering over this coat, was presently caught by the corner of a torn flap of an envelope which projected from one of the pockets. It was of a peculiar bluish tinge, in fact of a hue much affected by his wife. Listening for a moment to hear if anybody was coming, he stepped to the coat and extracted the letter.
Before him was Craig, with a little band around his forehead and the mirror where they could all see it. The Professor stood a little in the background. Laura and French were side by side, gazing with distended eyes at the blank mirror, and Lenora was doing her best to soothe the terrified niece. Twice Quest's teeth came together and once he almost reeled.
It was less than fifty yards, yet already, as he reached the shelter of the tower, the thunder of the freight sounded in Quest's ears. He glanced around. Red Gallagher and his mate were racing almost beside it towards him. He rushed up the narrow stairs into the signal room, tearing open his coat to show his official badge. "Stop the freight," he shouted to the operator. "Quick!
He walked up the stairs to Quest's library almost blithely. If he was aware of it, he took no notice of French and the two plain-clothes men behind. As he stepped into the room, he drew a long sigh of relief. He made his way at once to his favourite easy-chair, threw off his overcoat and leaned back. "Quest," he pronounced, "you are the best friend I have in my life!
The result was a general stampede. Red Gallagher alone remained motionless. Grim and dangerously silent, he held a pistol within a few inches of Quest's forehead. "If my number's up," he exclaimed ferociously, "it won't be you who'll take me." "I think it will," Quest answered. "Put that gun away." Gallagher hesitated. Quest's influence over him was indomitable.
"It is the Mongar poison!" the Professor cried, with breaking voice. They all looked at one another. "Craig must be here amongst us," Quest muttered. "And the bouillon," Lenora cried, clasping Quest's arm, "the bouillon was meant for you!"... There seemed to be, somehow, amongst all of them, a curious indisposition to discuss this matter.
Just one moment, Professor, while I send off a message," he continued, opening the little instrument. "Where are you, Lenora?" he signalled. "Send me word and I will fetch you. I am in my own house for the present. Let me know that you are safe." The Professor leaned back, smoking one of Quest's excellent cigars. He was beginning to show signs of the liveliest interest.
"It will be all right directly he comes back," Lenora whispered, laying her hand upon Quest's arm. "If only some one would give me my jewels and let me go!" Mrs. Rheinholdt moaned. The door opened and the Inspector reappeared. He was looking graver than ever. "Quest," he announced, "your alibi is useless in fact a little worse than useless.
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