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"I am nervous this morning, Phipps," he confided. "Had a bad night. Every one I've come across, too, lately, seems to be cursing the B. & I." "Let them curse," was the equable reply. "We can afford to hear a few harsh words when we are making money on such a scale." "Yes, but how long is it going to last?" Dredlinton asked fretfully.
Wingate will see me if he is alone," he heard a familiar voice say. He sprang to his feet, realising in those few moments into what paradise his thoughts had been climbing, and greeted Lady Dredlinton. Josephine accepted the easy-chair which he wheeled up for her and glanced around the room critically. "Just what I expected," she murmured.
Josephine Dredlinton, with a smile which gave to her face a singularly sweet expression, deprecated the disturbance which her coming had caused amongst the little company. The four men had risen to their feet. Kendrick was holding a chair for her. She apparently knew every one intimately except Wingate, and Sarah hastened to present him. "Mr. Wingate the Countess of Dredlinton," she said. "Mr.
I think you had better let me off that visit." "My dear fellow," Dredlinton pleaded, "if you don't come, Phipps will think it is because of last night's affair and I shall get it in the neck. I'm in disgrace enough already. Do, for heaven's sake, oblige me, there's a good chap." Wingate hesitated for a moment. "Very well," he assented, "I will go. Is that all?" "That's all, thanks."
You and he are hard up against one another, I know, and I suppose you realise that your growing friendship with Josephine Dredlinton is simply hell for him." "I imagine you know that his attentions to her have been entirely unwelcome," Wingate said calmly.
Dredlinton stumbled to the fireplace, found the bell and pressed it violently. A gleam of reassurance came to him. "My servants shall hear you repeat that!" he exclaimed. "I will have them all in to witness your confession. You are pleading guilty to a crime! I shall send out for the police! I shall hand you over from here!" "Not a bad idea," Wingate acknowledged.
Dredlinton moved to the sideboard, poured himself out a liqueur and drank it off. "Will you take something. Inspector?" he asked, turning around. "I thank your lordship, no!" Dredlinton thrust his hands into his pockets and returned to his seat. "I don't want to lose my temper," he said, "I am perfectly cool, as you see, Inspector -but put yourself in my position now.
"Stanley has disappeared!" he gasped. "He had one of those letters last night. It lies on his table now, his servant says. There was a noise in his room at four o'clock this morning. When they called him -he had gone! No one has seen or heard of him since!" "Stanley disappeared?" Phipps repeated in a dazed tone. "There's been foul play!" Dredlinton cried hoarsely. "His servant is sure of it!"
Wingate rose to his feet and watched. Phipps seemed keyed up to suffering. Dredlinton showed no sign. Their gaoler strolled up to the table. "There is the bread there, Phipps," he said, "a breakfast tray outside and some coffee. How goes it?" Phipps turned his leaden face. His eyes glowed dully. "Go to hell!" he muttered. Wingate returned to his place, lit and smoked a pipe and dozed off again.
Only half an hour before I was taken, Scotland Yard rang up to tell me that they thought they had a clue as to Stanley's disappearance. You risk five years' penal servitude by this freak." "I am content," was the cool reply. "But I am not!" Dredlinton shouted, straining at his cords. "I resign! I resign from the Board! Do you hear that, Wingate? I chuck it! Set me free!"
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