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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty three of The Double by Edgar Wallace. This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Atulsharma, Winnipeg, Canada,

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty three. He was not particularly startled, He was

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<v Speaker 1>not even surprised. He gave Dick the impression that nothing

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<v Speaker 1>in the world had ever succeeded in agitating him. Good afternoon, sir.

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<v Speaker 1>His voice was soft and deferential. He had a queer,

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<v Speaker 1>little droop of his head that was almost like a bow.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a beautiful place to me. The river is

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<v Speaker 1>even more interesting than the sea. Look at that tug

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<v Speaker 1>in those barges, like a swan with a number of

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<v Speaker 1>ugly ducklings. One wonders what sort of a life these

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<v Speaker 1>bargemen live. When you have finished being philosophical, Henry, will

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<v Speaker 1>you tell me why you are in London, and what

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<v Speaker 1>poor mister Cornford is doing in the meantime, to say

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<v Speaker 1>nothing of miss Dane. The bath chairman looked at him reproachfully.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Cornfort is in bed, he said, in a hushed voice.

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<v Speaker 1>I fear he may never use the bath chair again.

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<v Speaker 1>As bad as that, eh said Dick cheerfully. While you

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<v Speaker 1>can't live forever Henry was pained and miss Dane. Henry

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<v Speaker 1>shook his head. She is in town, sir, making inquiries

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<v Speaker 1>about something she lost in London, an inconsiderable trinket, but

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<v Speaker 1>very precious to her. Young girls have their peculiar fancies,

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<v Speaker 1>mister stains, and it is difficult to plumb the minds

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<v Speaker 1>of youth. Dick was amused, a little irritated too. He

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<v Speaker 1>had a feeling that this man was secretly laughing at him.

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<v Speaker 1>And who was looking after mister Cornfort? He demanded. Henry's

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<v Speaker 1>face fell three trained nurses, he said, in a hushed voice.

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<v Speaker 1>Dick looked round at the arched entrance to Scotland Yard.

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<v Speaker 1>Is she in there? I believe so, sir, But that

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<v Speaker 1>isn't the place she would go to make inquiries about

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<v Speaker 1>lost property. It is for along, he pointed. Henry followed

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<v Speaker 1>the direction of his finger and seemed interested in the

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<v Speaker 1>low roof building the gesture indicated, Is that so, sir?

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<v Speaker 1>He asked interestedly. I'm afraid miss Dane has only a

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<v Speaker 1>rudimentary acquaintance with police procedure. I have an idea that

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<v Speaker 1>her loss was of such importance that she was seeking

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<v Speaker 1>an interview with the Chief Constable Dick gaped at him

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<v Speaker 1>with the chief Constable bork. Henry nodded, she is a

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<v Speaker 1>peculiar young lady who invariably makes it her business to

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<v Speaker 1>go to the fountain head. Dick examined the man carefully,

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<v Speaker 1>but the blue eyes met his scrutiny with the least

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<v Speaker 1>effort at evasion. You speak rather nicely for a bath chairman,

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<v Speaker 1>said Dick. What were you before you engaged in this profession? Henry,

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<v Speaker 1>for a moment, looked embarrassed and coughed behind his gloved hand.

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<v Speaker 1>Dick noticed that as he raised his hand, his action

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<v Speaker 1>was stiff, and that he winced. He wondered what had

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<v Speaker 1>happened to his arm In my youth, I was a

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<v Speaker 1>professional prize fighter, he said, and Dick was staggered. It

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<v Speaker 1>is rather difficult to believe that a man of my

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<v Speaker 1>meager physique could ever have had any success in such

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<v Speaker 1>an arduous profession, said Henry, speaking with the greatest precision,

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<v Speaker 1>And in order to tone down the shock, I would

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<v Speaker 1>explain to you that I was also a teacher of

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<v Speaker 1>mathematics at a very honorable university. I found pugilism was

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<v Speaker 1>more lucrative, though it was somewhat disastrous to my scholastic career,

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<v Speaker 1>a lightweight, asked Dick. Unconvinced, a featherweight, said Henry gravely.

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<v Speaker 1>I am the only man who ever knocked out Digger

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<v Speaker 1>Bill Ferrers. He fell asleep in the thirteenth round and

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<v Speaker 1>was never the same man. Afterward, Dick looked at the

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<v Speaker 1>man suspiciously. Was his leg being pulled by this mild

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<v Speaker 1>dragger of bath chairs? Before he could ask a question,

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<v Speaker 1>he saw Mary Dane come into view. She was walking quickly,

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<v Speaker 1>but checked her place at the sight of the detective.

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<v Speaker 1>Henry regarded their meeting with great imperturbability. Dick had the

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<v Speaker 1>suspicion that he was mildly amused. I suppose Henry told

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<v Speaker 1>you the news about mister Cormfort. Is he dead? Asked

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<v Speaker 1>Dick brutally, and she looked at him reproachfully. How brutal

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<v Speaker 1>you are? Of course he isn't. The poor old man

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<v Speaker 1>is in bed and you've come up to Scotland Yard

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<v Speaker 1>to make an inquiry about h whatever Henry told you

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<v Speaker 1>it was, She interrupted, calmly enough, Please don't cross examine

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<v Speaker 1>me on the King's Highway. I think your mister Bork

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<v Speaker 1>is rather a darling. I will convey your views to him,

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<v Speaker 1>said Dick. She was looking at him thoughtfully, biting that

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<v Speaker 1>red netherlip of hers. And then thank you, Henry. You

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<v Speaker 1>needn't wait. Mister Staines is taking me to tea at Sollinger's.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's walk through the park. I like parks, so I understand,

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<v Speaker 1>said Dick. He looked back over his shoulder. Henry was

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<v Speaker 1>still standing where they had left him, his contemplative eye

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<v Speaker 1>on the river. Where is his bath chair? He demanded.

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<v Speaker 1>I should have thought that he would at least have

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<v Speaker 1>brought that interesting mustard colored vehicle to town. He looks

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<v Speaker 1>almost naked without it. I should have loved to see

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<v Speaker 1>you both being held up by a traffic cop. Your

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<v Speaker 1>being rather unpleasant this afternoon, she said. I never use

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<v Speaker 1>bath chairs. I am taking you away from your work,

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<v Speaker 1>which is selfish of me. But I'm not feeling a

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<v Speaker 1>bit penitent. You are my work, he said, and my worry.

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<v Speaker 1>He did not provoke her to a reply. They crossed

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<v Speaker 1>a whitehall into the park gates, and their walks slowed

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<v Speaker 1>to a saunter, which is a pace appropriate to parks.

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<v Speaker 1>How is the ghost, she asked, as they lounged along

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<v Speaker 1>the edge of the lake. Not so well, said Dick.

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<v Speaker 1>He has given up his bath chair and is taken

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<v Speaker 1>to bed. You mean, mister Cornfort, how absurd you are?

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<v Speaker 1>I meant the gun laying ghost. Did they nearly get you?

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<v Speaker 1>My dear? I was worried ill that night. I hope

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<v Speaker 1>you will never feel as I did. It was horrid.

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<v Speaker 1>What made you think there was a spring gun in

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<v Speaker 1>the house? Instinct? She said, and he knew that she

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<v Speaker 1>was speaking the truth. I suppose when a woman feels

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<v Speaker 1>as I do toward a man, her intelligence is sharpened

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<v Speaker 1>to a point where instinct gets a chance of operating.

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<v Speaker 1>I thought I would die as I sat by that

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<v Speaker 1>telephone waiting to hear your voice. Dick, you're not taking

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<v Speaker 1>any more chances. As a matter of fact, I am.

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<v Speaker 1>She stopped dead and looked at him, her lips parted,

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<v Speaker 1>her eyes wide with fear. What do you mean, mister

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<v Speaker 1>Derrick is coming back to live here and he has

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<v Speaker 1>asked me to sleep on the premises. She said nothing,

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<v Speaker 1>but slowly resumed her walk. When do you go in tomorrow?

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<v Speaker 1>I think Tommy hasn't said when he's returning. And then

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<v Speaker 1>as he remembered, he is probably in town. She shook

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<v Speaker 1>her head. No. I told him I was coming back tonight,

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<v Speaker 1>and aren't you? She hesitated. Henry rather wanted to see

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<v Speaker 1>a theater, and I promised him he should, And then

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<v Speaker 1>she went off at a tangent. I like your inspector

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<v Speaker 1>Bork superintendent. Is he well? Whatever he is, he's a nice,

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<v Speaker 1>fat darling of a man. He was very severe at first,

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<v Speaker 1>but we became quite good friends. What did you see

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<v Speaker 1>him about? I lost a bangle? She said? Why do

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<v Speaker 1>you make me lie? I saw him about the bomb throwing.

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<v Speaker 1>As a matter of fact, he wrote to me and

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<v Speaker 1>asked me to come to see him. I suppose you

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<v Speaker 1>know the Municipality of Eastbourne has offered a reward of

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<v Speaker 1>two hundred pounds. Dick nodded he had seen the announcement

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<v Speaker 1>in the paper. Moreover, that evening of his in Eastbourne

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<v Speaker 1>had kept him fully occupied since he came back to town.

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<v Speaker 1>Dick tried to question her about several matters in which

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<v Speaker 1>she was interested, but very skillfully she headed him off,

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<v Speaker 1>and they reached a great department store without his being

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<v Speaker 1>any the wiser. She had some purchases to make. She

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<v Speaker 1>told him and went by the elevator to the fourth floor,

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<v Speaker 1>and he waited at the entrance of the Inquiry bureau.

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<v Speaker 1>He knew this department very well. Here letters could be

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<v Speaker 1>written and received, there were half a dozen writing tables

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<v Speaker 1>for the use of customers, and the room was fairly

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<v Speaker 1>well filled, mainly by women. He had often speculated upon

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<v Speaker 1>the value of such a department as this to the

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<v Speaker 1>criminally minded man or woman. He knew at least one

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<v Speaker 1>unpleasant case that had its focal point in a pigeon

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<v Speaker 1>hole behind the polished mahogany counter. Presently, he saw Mary

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<v Speaker 1>Dane come in and go to one of the girl

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<v Speaker 1>attendants and ask a question. The attendant shook her head,

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<v Speaker 1>made a rapid search of a pigeon hole, and came

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<v Speaker 1>back with another head shake. Then Mary saw him, smiled

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<v Speaker 1>and waved her hand in greeting. How dreadful, she said,

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<v Speaker 1>with mock humility. When she came up to him, You

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<v Speaker 1>have caught me in the act clandestine correspondence. Why do

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<v Speaker 1>you peep? Is it because you're a detective? I wasn't peeping,

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<v Speaker 1>said Dick indignantly. I happened to be near the entrance

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<v Speaker 1>and I saw you. I didn't leave you. At the entrance,

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<v Speaker 1>she said severely. Now stay here and don't move. I

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<v Speaker 1>am going to buy certain garments. He waited for ten

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<v Speaker 1>minutes for a quarter of an hour, but she did

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<v Speaker 1>not return. Then he made an inquiry of the shop walker. Yes, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>I remember the lady. She went down to the first

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<v Speaker 1>floor to the lady's undergarments. Dick waited another quarter of

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<v Speaker 1>an hour. There was no sign of the girl. He

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<v Speaker 1>was turning to go when he saw coming toward him

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<v Speaker 1>the counter attendant of the inquiry bureau. Excuse me, you

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<v Speaker 1>were with miss Dane, weren't you, Yes, he said, wondering.

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<v Speaker 1>The cable just came through over the phone. She had

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<v Speaker 1>a slip of paper in her hand. Will you be

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<v Speaker 1>seeing miss Dane? I hope. So she went back, took

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<v Speaker 1>an envelope from the counter and slipped the paper in

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<v Speaker 1>and handed it to him. Dick put the message in

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<v Speaker 1>his pocket and went down in search of the girl.

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<v Speaker 1>She was not on the floor where he expected to

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<v Speaker 1>find her, and he ascended again to the place where

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<v Speaker 1>she had left him. He was a patient man, but

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<v Speaker 1>nobody short of an angel could wait an hour without

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<v Speaker 1>feeling a sense of irritation. At last, in no pleasant temper,

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<v Speaker 1>he decided to go. He was passing out of one

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<v Speaker 1>of the big spring doors on to the street when

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<v Speaker 1>a commissionaire came running up to him. You're mister Stains,

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<v Speaker 1>aren't you. A young lady left a message for you.

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<v Speaker 1>She said she'd been called away, and mister, somebody whose

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<v Speaker 1>name I've forgotten is Ill Cornfort, said Dick. That's the name, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>said the commissionaire. She asked me if I knew you,

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<v Speaker 1>and of course I do, because you've been here before

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<v Speaker 1>on business. He grinned. But Dick was not in a

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<v Speaker 1>smiling temper. He was annoyed with Mary, more than irritated

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<v Speaker 1>with himself. She had acquired the habit of making him

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<v Speaker 1>feel extremely foolish, and he was in a savage mood

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<v Speaker 1>when he swung into Scotland Yard and collided with the

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<v Speaker 1>portly figure of mister Bork, who had stopped hazardously at

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<v Speaker 1>the corner of the corridor to light a cigar. You're

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<v Speaker 1>a little over two hours late, snapped Bork as he

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<v Speaker 1>retrieved his injured corona. Don't apologize for I'd forgotten the appointment.

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<v Speaker 1>We've arrested a man at Bexhill for throwing the bomb,

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<v Speaker 1>but he looks like proving an alibi. It was undoubtedly

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<v Speaker 1>his car, but there seems no doubt that he sold

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<v Speaker 1>it at junk price the week before last. What did

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<v Speaker 1>Mary Dane want? Blurted Dick. Mary Dane work scratched his

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<v Speaker 1>second chin. Let me see now, what did she want? Oh? Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>it was about the bomb throwing. Rather a nice girl,

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<v Speaker 1>that eh. He looked at Dick shrewdly clever too. What

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<v Speaker 1>a criminal she'd make, do you think? Began Inspector Staines

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<v Speaker 1>never replied the other promptly too, brain wearing I'll see

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<v Speaker 1>you in the morning. He was gone before Dick could

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<v Speaker 1>fire in another question. Undoubtedly the superintendent was peeved, as

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<v Speaker 1>he had every right to be, for Inspector Staines was

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<v Speaker 1>considerably over two hours late for his appointment, and moreover,

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<v Speaker 1>he had spoiled a very good cigar and of Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>twenty three,