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

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

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty six. Dereck followed him into Tommy's dining room.

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<v Speaker 1>I am almost beginning to feel that this is my

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<v Speaker 1>house too, he said, jocularly. Well, what do you make

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<v Speaker 1>of it? More like a cinema film than a piece

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<v Speaker 1>of real life, And then, as his eyes fell upon

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<v Speaker 1>the mask in Dick's hand, he laughed, You couldn't imagine that,

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<v Speaker 1>could you. What do you say about changing your mind

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<v Speaker 1>and spending the night in this ghost house of mine?

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<v Speaker 1>Or may I make an alternative suggestion, said Dick quietly,

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<v Speaker 1>that you let my two men stay there. They won't

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<v Speaker 1>want to sleep. A chair in the drawing room will

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<v Speaker 1>be all they'll require. Before he had finished, Deryck was

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<v Speaker 1>shaking his head. I don't think so, he said. No,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm all for reducing the risks to a minimum. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>not staying there myself tomorrow. I'm bringing in a gang

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<v Speaker 1>of workmen storing my furniture, and as soon as it

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<v Speaker 1>is out of the house, I'm going to pull it down.

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<v Speaker 1>Brick by brick and then he asked the most surprising question.

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<v Speaker 1>I wonder if I could see the butler's pantry. Dick

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<v Speaker 1>stared at him. In Weald's house, I don't see any objection.

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<v Speaker 1>He rang for Mins, and that urbane man came. Mister

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<v Speaker 1>Deryck wishes to see your pantry. To his amazement, he

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<v Speaker 1>saw the butler's jaw drop and his face change color.

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<v Speaker 1>My pantry, sir, certainly, if you don't mind, I'll make

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<v Speaker 1>it just a bit tidy. You needn't bother about that,

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<v Speaker 1>said Derrick, going to follow Mins from the room. The

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<v Speaker 1>man turned in the doorway to face him. I'm sorry, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>he was his old, dignified self. While I'm in his

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<v Speaker 1>Lordship's service, I'm afraid I can take such orders only

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<v Speaker 1>from him. I shall be most happy to show you

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<v Speaker 1>my pantry, but it would not be creditable to his

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<v Speaker 1>Lordship that my room should be untidy when you inspected it.

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<v Speaker 1>He went out of the room and closed the door

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<v Speaker 1>behind him. Mister Derrick stared after him. That was the

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<v Speaker 1>last thing I expected, said Dick, secretly. Amused. Dereck turned

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<v Speaker 1>on him with a face as black as thunder. The

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<v Speaker 1>old fashioned servitor, eh I've read about them in books,

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<v Speaker 1>but never met them before. I don't think I want

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<v Speaker 1>to see that pantry. He turned on his heel and

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<v Speaker 1>left the house. Dick went out to mister Min's room.

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<v Speaker 1>He found the butler very placid and rather pleased with

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<v Speaker 1>himself than otherwise. What's the idea about that pantry of yours? Mins?

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<v Speaker 1>He asked? Is it part of the general mystery? There's

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<v Speaker 1>nothing mysterious about my pantry, sir, And then, with a

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<v Speaker 1>note of anxiety in his voice, do you mind telling

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<v Speaker 1>me if mister Derrick made any reference to the fact

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<v Speaker 1>that I was reluctant to show him the room. A

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<v Speaker 1>sharp retort was on Dick's lips, but he checked the inclination.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Derrick merely said that he didn't think it necessary

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<v Speaker 1>now to inspect your room. He saw the butler's face

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<v Speaker 1>go gray. I'm sorry, he said that, sir. He offered

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<v Speaker 1>no explanation for her sorrow, but it was evident to

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<v Speaker 1>Dick that the man was uneasy. Mins came in at

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<v Speaker 1>midnight to ask if there was anything further Dick required,

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<v Speaker 1>and Dick heard him walk along the passage and the

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<v Speaker 1>click as he turned the key in his lock. At

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<v Speaker 1>half past twelve, the detective extinguished all the lights in

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<v Speaker 1>the passage and went to the front door. The square

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<v Speaker 1>was apparently deserted, but he knew that in the vicinity

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<v Speaker 1>and out of sight, were a dozen plain clothes men

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<v Speaker 1>who had drifted there one by one and were now

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<v Speaker 1>cursing the rain and cursing him for this extra duty

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<v Speaker 1>imposed upon them. He had already warned the sergeant in

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<v Speaker 1>charge that it was possible he would have a late visitor.

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<v Speaker 1>He glanced at his watch. It was half an hour

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<v Speaker 1>before one. He took down his raincoat and buttoning it

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<v Speaker 1>up to his chin, closed the door behind him, and

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<v Speaker 1>made a circuit of the block. In the mews behind

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<v Speaker 1>the house, he found two of the watchers. Theirs was

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<v Speaker 1>a difficult task. In the mews, there were more than

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<v Speaker 1>a dozen garages, not counting the two that flanked the

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<v Speaker 1>garden wall. From twelve o'clock onward, cars had been coming

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<v Speaker 1>and backing into their garages. Even as he was talking

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<v Speaker 1>to one of the men, another machine glided into the mews.

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<v Speaker 1>It is almost impossible to keep track of people coming

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<v Speaker 1>and going, said the detective. Sergeant watching the inspection of

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<v Speaker 1>the chauffeurs and footmen. Mins was out here a few

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<v Speaker 1>minutes ago, smoking a pipe. Mins. I thought he was

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<v Speaker 1>in bed, said Dick, surprised. Yet there was nothing remarkable

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<v Speaker 1>in the butler's appearance. Apparently it was his nightly practice

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<v Speaker 1>to emerge through the little wicket gate in the garage

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<v Speaker 1>door and smoke his quiet pipe. Whose car is that?

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<v Speaker 1>Dick pointed to an open touring car with blazing head lamps,

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<v Speaker 1>which stood across the doorway of Tommy's gothic motor house.

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<v Speaker 1>The detective could give no information except that it had

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<v Speaker 1>been standing there for an hour. Dick examined the machine

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<v Speaker 1>and found it coated with mud. Even the number plate

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<v Speaker 1>was obscure. But when he wiped this clean, he saw

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<v Speaker 1>that the letters before the number indicated a Sussex origin.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a big Wangli, one of the most powerful

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<v Speaker 1>sporting cars on the road. He put his lamp into

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<v Speaker 1>the interior and discovered nothing more exciting than a waterproof

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<v Speaker 1>rug designed for the protection of the passengers, and beneath

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<v Speaker 1>this a couple of fleecy rugs. I remember now, it

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<v Speaker 1>came less than an hour ago, said one of the watchers.

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<v Speaker 1>I couldn't see who was in it because the head

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<v Speaker 1>light was rather fierce. Keep your eye on it, said Dick,

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<v Speaker 1>and went back to the front of the house. He

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<v Speaker 1>stared up at the white front of the mystery house.

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<v Speaker 1>The windows on the upper balcony had been closed, probably

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<v Speaker 1>by Derrick. There was nothing to do now but await developments.

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<v Speaker 1>He re entered the darkened house, and at five minutes

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<v Speaker 1>before one he moved quietly into the dark passage and

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<v Speaker 1>stood by the door. A pedestrian passed hurriedly. He heard

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<v Speaker 1>his footsteps die away in the distance, and then the

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<v Speaker 1>boom of a church clock striking the hour. There was

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<v Speaker 1>no other sound, and his hand was on the lock

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<v Speaker 1>when he heard a faint scratch on the panel. Instantly

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<v Speaker 1>the door was opened, and he saw two figures. They

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<v Speaker 1>must have been standing close against the doorway, for they

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<v Speaker 1>nearly fell into the passage. Who is it? It is Mary, Dick.

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<v Speaker 1>Her voice was breathless. Who is with you? Ah, a friend?

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<v Speaker 1>He saw it was a man, but could not distinguish

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<v Speaker 1>the face. Come in, he said, and the girl's companion

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<v Speaker 1>walked with a distinct limp. You had better stay in

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<v Speaker 1>the dining room. No, no, her voice was terrified. Will

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<v Speaker 1>you take us up to your room, Dick. The Dick

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<v Speaker 1>came hesitantly, as though she were shy of calling him

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<v Speaker 1>by name before a third party. My friend, mister Jones,

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<v Speaker 1>mister Cornfort, I think, said Dick quietly, and he heard

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<v Speaker 1>a soft laugh from the man. You've got a good memory,

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<v Speaker 1>he said. It was the cultured voice of a public

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<v Speaker 1>school man. Certainly there was nothing in it of age

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<v Speaker 1>or decrepitude. The man he had not bargained for. He

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<v Speaker 1>would not have been surprised if Henry had been the

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<v Speaker 1>second of the party, but the arrival of Cornfort rather

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<v Speaker 1>took him aback. Before we go any further, he said,

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<v Speaker 1>I want to be taken in to your little secret.

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<v Speaker 1>I realized that something unpleasant is going to happen, but

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<v Speaker 1>I want to know just how and why. I should

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<v Speaker 1>be surprised if you didn't, said Cornfort's voice. I'll tell

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<v Speaker 1>you candidly the position. Mary had no intention that I

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<v Speaker 1>should be here to night, but I'm tired of her

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<v Speaker 1>taking risks on my behalf, and I wanted to be

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<v Speaker 1>near her. And I can tell you, Dick smiled grimly

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<v Speaker 1>in the darkness, that Mary is taking no risks, either

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<v Speaker 1>tonight or any other night. Then he turned to the girl.

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<v Speaker 1>Is this the idea that you want me to help

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<v Speaker 1>you to get into the house next door? Are you

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<v Speaker 1>the flanking party? If so, you can count me out.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm a police officer and I have a duty to perform.

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<v Speaker 1>As to what my duty is exactly, I'm not perfectly sure,

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<v Speaker 1>but it certainly isn't my job to help you people

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<v Speaker 1>toward a premature end. No, her voice was almost a whisper.

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<v Speaker 1>It was Henry's idea. He wanted me safe. He was

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<v Speaker 1>scared that Levinsky would hit back through me. I wanted

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<v Speaker 1>to stay in Eastbourne, but after what happened the other night,

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<v Speaker 1>that was impossible. That is the truth, mister Dick. They

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<v Speaker 1>didn't know what to do with me at all. Henry

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<v Speaker 1>said I ought to be locked up in a police

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<v Speaker 1>station and that I would be safe then, and he

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<v Speaker 1>wanted mister Cornfort to go to France. Then there came

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<v Speaker 1>this desperate idea that we should come to you. There's

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<v Speaker 1>no trick in it, Dick. Her hand gripped his arm appealingly.

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<v Speaker 1>Really there isn't, you see, mister Cornfort had to be

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<v Speaker 1>somewhere handy. You'll understand that some day. So At the

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<v Speaker 1>last moment, they decided he should come with me. Dick groaned,

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<v Speaker 1>my dear girl, I can't understand anything. He thought a moment, Oh, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>I can, though, Come up to my room. He slipped

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<v Speaker 1>his arm about her waist, but she drew clearer with

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<v Speaker 1>a frightened exclamation. For Dick, it was not unexpected. Don't don't,

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<v Speaker 1>she whispered, and then she stammered, I'm terribly sorry, but

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<v Speaker 1>I'm nervous. And then, as though she remembered something, You're

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<v Speaker 1>not to leave us in any circumstances, dear. It was

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<v Speaker 1>a shy dear, and the man she addressed understood why

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<v Speaker 1>and smiled to himself. Come up to my room, darling,

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<v Speaker 1>he said, And there was malice in that dark, darling.

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<v Speaker 1>He led the way, and they followed in silence. At

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<v Speaker 1>the door, she caught his arm again. Don't put on

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<v Speaker 1>the lights, please, He ushered them into the room. The

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<v Speaker 1>curtains were not drawn, and even in the half light

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<v Speaker 1>from the street lamp, he could see how pale she was.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Cornfort, who had not spoken more than a sentence

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<v Speaker 1>since he had come into the house, walked to the

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<v Speaker 1>window and was stepping on to the balcony when the

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<v Speaker 1>girl pulled him back. No, no, you mustn't you remember,

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<v Speaker 1>can't we draw the blinds? Dick put his arm in hers.

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<v Speaker 1>She was trembling from head to foot, and she held

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<v Speaker 1>her arm stiffly, like an automaton. Then Cornfort spoke, if

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<v Speaker 1>we could be absolutely sure that Mary's theory was right,

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<v Speaker 1>the thing would be so simple. We could even ask

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<v Speaker 1>the police to help us, and the matter could be

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<v Speaker 1>settled in daylight. But we aren't sure, and Henry will

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<v Speaker 1>not allow us to take a single risk. What is

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<v Speaker 1>the risk, asked Dick. There was a silence, and then

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<v Speaker 1>Cornfort spoke, slowly and with great deliberation. Life imprisonment for

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<v Speaker 1>me and imprisonment for Mary. They heard the whine of

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<v Speaker 1>a car draw up on the ground below. Dick stepped

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<v Speaker 1>on to the balcony, and, shaking off the agonized grasp

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<v Speaker 1>of the girl, saw it stop before the house. Somebody

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<v Speaker 1>was getting out, he did not see who, and that

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<v Speaker 1>somebody was moving to the front door. He stepped back

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<v Speaker 1>into the room and went to the head of the

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<v Speaker 1>stairs and listened. There was no sound, and then he

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<v Speaker 1>heard the door slam, and Tommy's voice hailed him from below, hullo,

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<v Speaker 1>where are all the lights? Come up quickly and don't

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<v Speaker 1>make a row any trouble. The voice was eager, I say,

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<v Speaker 1>old boy, I forgot to tell you where I was staying.

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<v Speaker 1>Only occurred to me as I was coming out of

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<v Speaker 1>the Owls club. Don't make a noise, warned Dick. Again.

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<v Speaker 1>Tommy came up the last flight at a run, umbled

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<v Speaker 1>on the last step and raised a din, which must

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<v Speaker 1>have been heard on the other side of the square. Sorry,

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<v Speaker 1>old boy, the ghost walking by. Jove, I'm just in time. Hush,

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<v Speaker 1>warned Dick in a low voice. There's somebody you know

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<v Speaker 1>in my room, eh Mary. Tommy did not see the

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<v Speaker 1>grin which accompanied the words Mary. He squeaked in your room,

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<v Speaker 1>good God, in your room? What in the name she

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<v Speaker 1>is well chaperoned? Mister Cornfort? Is there an invalid in

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<v Speaker 1>a gentleman? Said Dick flippantly. And then the girl spoke, Tommy.

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<v Speaker 1>It was not like the timid Dick she had addressed

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<v Speaker 1>to him. Tommy, darling, why did you come? Why did

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<v Speaker 1>I come? By? Gad? I think it's about time I

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<v Speaker 1>did come, spluttered Tommy. What the deuce does all this mean? Mary?

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<v Speaker 1>In old Dickie's room. I mean to say, mister Cornfort

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<v Speaker 1>is here. What does all this darkness mean? Where the

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<v Speaker 1>devil are the lights? He groped along for the switch,

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<v Speaker 1>but two hands held his wrist and drew his arm away. Tommy, darling,

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<v Speaker 1>you mustn't. She led the bewildered young man into the room.

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<v Speaker 1>From somewhere outside came a faint whistle. Dick dashed out

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<v Speaker 1>onto the balcony. He could see nothing parallel with him,

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<v Speaker 1>and then he leaned over. Two people were on the

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<v Speaker 1>balcony of Deryck's house outside the drawing room window. They

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<v Speaker 1>were feeling along the wall their sexes. It was impossible

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<v Speaker 1>to determine, so dark, shadowy, and shapeless they were. He

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<v Speaker 1>saw one reach up and touch the glazed wall, and

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<v Speaker 1>then a miracle happened. A section of the wall about

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<v Speaker 1>two feet square swung open like a door. As he

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<v Speaker 1>looked fascinated, he saw a third figure appear and instantly

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<v Speaker 1>recognized the bulk of it. It was the man who

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<v Speaker 1>had shot at him earlier in the evening. There was

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<v Speaker 1>no way of reaching him except one. It involved a

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<v Speaker 1>swinging leap from the upper balcony to that below. He

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<v Speaker 1>did not hesitate. For the fraction of a second, he

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<v Speaker 1>was over the parapet, and for a second was hanging

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<v Speaker 1>by his hands from the stone flooring. Twice he swung

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<v Speaker 1>his body and felt his finger slipping on the beveled edge.

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<v Speaker 1>Suddenly he kicked himself forward and leaped. He missed the

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<v Speaker 1>stone parapet of the lower balcony by inches. His knees

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<v Speaker 1>and elbow struck the mass man as the latter fired,

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<v Speaker 1>and in an instant the two were rolling over in

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<v Speaker 1>that narrow space. The man fought furiously. Dick had gripped

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<v Speaker 1>at the black mask and was tearing it when he

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<v Speaker 1>felt two cruel fingers groping for his eyes, and released

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<v Speaker 1>his hold. As quick as lightning. The man flung himself clear.

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<v Speaker 1>There was a crash of glass as his foot smashed

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<v Speaker 1>through one of the panes of the swinging door, and

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<v Speaker 1>before the detective could scramble to his knees, the masked

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<v Speaker 1>man was in the room. Dick came up to his

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<v Speaker 1>feet and was making a dive at the door when

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<v Speaker 1>somebody gripped him by the collar and threw him back.

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<v Speaker 1>You fool, hissed a voice in his ear. Don't you

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<v Speaker 1>know ping the bullet struck the window frame. Dick saw

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<v Speaker 1>the flash of flame from the dark room, and his

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<v Speaker 1>face smarted with the splinters of smashed window pane. Breathless,

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<v Speaker 1>he allowed himself to be drawn to the cover of

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<v Speaker 1>the balcony. Police whistles were blowing now, and he saw

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<v Speaker 1>officers running from all directions toward the house. Shaking off

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<v Speaker 1>the man who held him, and oblivious of the danger,

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<v Speaker 1>he ran into the drawing room, pulling as automatic as

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<v Speaker 1>he flew. The door was closed but not locked. He

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<v Speaker 1>thought he heard a sound below PLoP. This time the

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<v Speaker 1>explosion was louder. His assailant had abandoned the silencer. Dick

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<v Speaker 1>shot down into the dark once twice, and then heard

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<v Speaker 1>a howl of pain. A door banged below. The man

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<v Speaker 1>had flown into the basement, but Dick was on his heels.

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<v Speaker 1>There was no light now, but he could hear the

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<v Speaker 1>sobbing breath of his quarry. He was making for the

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<v Speaker 1>wine cellar. Almost as he realized the destination of his enemy,

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<v Speaker 1>the iron door clanged and he heard the sound of

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<v Speaker 1>a bolt being shot. There was no way in and

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<v Speaker 1>no way out except through the garden, and there he

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<v Speaker 1>knew a policeman was on duty, but an unarmed policeman.

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<v Speaker 1>He ran upstairs, opened the door to admit the crowd

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<v Speaker 1>of detectives and playing closed policemen and gave them instructions.

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<v Speaker 1>Now he came back to the drawing room, somebody had

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<v Speaker 1>turned on the lights. Mary, in a long black raincoat,

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<v Speaker 1>was waiting for him at the head of the stairs.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you hurt? Her voice was thin with anxiety. Oh, Dick,

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<v Speaker 1>I told you, I'm all right. He was breathless, his

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<v Speaker 1>head was reeling, his lacerated face was red with blood.

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<v Speaker 1>As he walked from the drawing room, he saw Henry

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<v Speaker 1>come in from the balcony, and in his hand was

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<v Speaker 1>a little red book. I think there's pots of money there, darling,

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<v Speaker 1>he began, and then he saw Dick and smile gently.

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning, missus Stains. Now I suppose we're all going

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<v Speaker 1>to be arrested. Dick shook his head. I don't think so.

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<v Speaker 1>He said. He had seen on the table where either

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<v Speaker 1>Henry or the girl had laid it, a replica of

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<v Speaker 1>that peculiar instrument, the vacuum pump. Evidently it had done

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<v Speaker 1>its work well. Henry saw him looking and smiled broadly. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>the safe was on the outside of the house, he said,

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<v Speaker 1>and a most ingenious idea, because it couldn't very well

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<v Speaker 1>be burgled. Do you realize that I thought it might

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<v Speaker 1>be when I searched the records of the borough Council

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<v Speaker 1>and found that the late mister Deryck had petitioned for

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<v Speaker 1>a powerful street lamp to be placed opposite his house,

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<v Speaker 1>and had even offered to defray the cost, which, in

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<v Speaker 1>a gentleman of his peculiar temperament, was a remarkable offer.

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<v Speaker 1>He still fondled the little red book. Have you any

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<v Speaker 1>idea where mister Walter Derrick is to be found, he

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<v Speaker 1>asked politely. Dick gave the name of the hotel. It

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<v Speaker 1>is only right, said Henry, that we should give an

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<v Speaker 1>explanation for the liberties we have taken from time to time.

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<v Speaker 1>By the way, I wonder if the officers would object

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<v Speaker 1>to our mister Cornfort joining us. There is a young

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<v Speaker 1>lady with him whom I should naturally like to see.

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<v Speaker 1>I have already sent for your daughter and for mister Cornfort,

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<v Speaker 1>said Dick, I should like that book. Henry handed over

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<v Speaker 1>the red covered autograph book without protest. Once the outer

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<v Speaker 1>wall was moved, the safe presented no difficulty. It was

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<v Speaker 1>in fact unlocked, the lock being He took the vacuum

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<v Speaker 1>pump from the table and showed the steel lever in

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<v Speaker 1>the center. This that had to be pressed into a

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<v Speaker 1>microscopic hole. It was terribly difficult to find it in

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<v Speaker 1>the dark as far as the screw would allow. The

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00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:51.599
<v Speaker 1>vacuum pump then became a door handle. How did you

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<v Speaker 1>find the needle hole in the wall, asked Dick. Henry

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<v Speaker 1>was almost apologetic, as he explained, by telescopic photography and

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<v Speaker 1>skillful enlargement, it was very simple. The safe in the

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<v Speaker 1>outer wall was, as I said, a most ingenious idea.

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<v Speaker 1>By the way, mister stains, there is a very large

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<v Speaker 1>quantity of paper money in that eer a receptacle, and

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<v Speaker 1>I think it would be advisable if your officer removed

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<v Speaker 1>it to a more secure place. He was still speaking

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<v Speaker 1>when Cornfort limped into the room, followed by Tommy and

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<v Speaker 1>the girl. It was the first time Dick had seen

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<v Speaker 1>Mary and her sister together. For his own part, he

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<v Speaker 1>could never have fallen into the air. That was Tommy's

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<v Speaker 1>You're the night nurse, aren't you? The girl nodded. Jane

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<v Speaker 1>de Villiers. Jane de Villiers smiled and looked timidly at

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<v Speaker 1>the gaping young man by her side. Tommy was staring

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<v Speaker 1>from one girl to the other. The same eyes, the

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<v Speaker 1>same turn of eyebrow, almost the same color of hair.

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<v Speaker 1>Mary de Villiers was, if anything, a little fairer. By gosh,

338
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<v Speaker 1>he spluttered, I mean to say, you mean to say,

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<v Speaker 1>you're rather astonished, Tommy. There was a smile in Mary's eyes.

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<v Speaker 1>For my own part, I'm fearfully disappointed that Detective Inspector

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<v Speaker 1>Richard Staines has encollapsed on the floor, she addressed Dick pleadingly.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't tell me you knew. Yes, I knew, But how

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<v Speaker 1>in spite of the tenseness of that moment, in a

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<v Speaker 1>situation that might be fraught with so much danger to herself?

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<v Speaker 1>And though she loved feminine curiosity was paramount to all

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<v Speaker 1>other issues. You never saw us together. Poor Jane has

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<v Speaker 1>lived a life of terror for months. She never went

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<v Speaker 1>out except when I was away. How did you know?

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<v Speaker 1>She challenged. Dick was looking at her steadily. Do you

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<v Speaker 1>ask that question seriously? She half nodded, as though she

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<v Speaker 1>were afraid to be told. Then I'll tell you some

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<v Speaker 1>other time. The only information I can give you now

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<v Speaker 1>is that when a woman says things to me on

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<v Speaker 1>a railway platform, and immediately afterward I hear she is

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<v Speaker 1>engaged to somebody else, I believe. I think we'll discuss

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<v Speaker 1>that some other time, She said hastily, her pale face

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<v Speaker 1>had gone pink. You know my father, she nodded to Henry.

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<v Speaker 1>He looked at Henry and laughed, Yes, I know him

359
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<v Speaker 1>pretty well. His name is Henry de Villiers. He is

360
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<v Speaker 1>the head of the de Villiers Detective Agency in Cape

361
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<v Speaker 1>Town and Johannesburg. Murmured, Henry, we also have branches at Durban,

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<v Speaker 1>Pretoria and Kimberly. Are you going to look at that book?

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<v Speaker 1>There is somebody here rather interested at the sight of

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<v Speaker 1>the red covered book. Mister Cornfort had sunk limply into

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<v Speaker 1>a chair, But now when his name was mentioned, he

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<v Speaker 1>stood up and extended a shaking hand to take the

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<v Speaker 1>book from Dick. He turned the leaves rapidly and presently

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<v Speaker 1>stopped on this page. There were four rows of finger prints,

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<v Speaker 1>one under the other, and he pointed to the third.

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<v Speaker 1>In the crabbed angular handwriting of old Deryck was written

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<v Speaker 1>my son Walter born on the third of January eighteen

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<v Speaker 1>ninety seven. Whose finger prints are those asked? Dick mine,

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<v Speaker 1>said Cornfort, in a voice that was scarcely above a whisper.

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<v Speaker 1>End of Chapter twenty six.