The Chestermarke Instinct
aused in whatever task he was busied with, if Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke had crossed his path for the first time. The senior partner of Chestermarke's Bank was a noticeable
of doors, invariably rested the latest-styled and glossiest of silk hats-no man had ever seen Gabriel Chestermarke in any other form of head-gear, unless it was in a railway carriage, there he condescended to assume a checked cap. Underneath the brim of the silk hat looked out a countenance as remarkable as the head of which it was a part. A broad, smooth forehead, a pair of large, deep-set eyes, the pupils of which were black as sloes, a prominent, slightly hooked nose, a firm, thin-lipped
e never taken aback and never show surprise, and as his eyes ran over the three young men, there was no si
el
ouse door. "Mr. Horbury is not at ho
ll to a side-door sacred to the partners. He produced a key, opened the door, and motioned the clerks t
ea
er of the bank in a bygone age. He was suddenly struck by the curious resemblance between that dead Chestermarke and t
r. Horbury?
fashion, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on his informant
emarked, "he would have wired or telephoned by this. Telephoned, of course: there
At ten o'clock the street door was opened. A customer or two began to drop in. The business of the day had begun. It went on just as i
eed suit, a slouch hat, a flannel shirt. His brown beard usually needed trimming; he affected loose, flowing neckties, more suited to an artist than to a banker. His face was amiable in expression, a little weak, a little speculative. All these characteristics came out most strongly when he and his uncle were seen in company: nothing could be more in
vate parlour. Several minutes elapsed: then a bell rang. Neale answered it, and Shirley and Patten gl
ard over his desk to Shirley, who stood bet
rley. "Did you see his eyes when Neale said that Horbury wa
eady seething with boyish desire of ex
at the closed door throug
abriel'll want to know the whys and wherefores, you bet. Bu
s desk, stern, upright, his eyes burning a little more fiercely than usual: the junior, his slouch hat s
ke. "What do you know about this? Hav
ed Neale. "No
manded Gabriel. "You often see
lock on Saturday," replied Neal
that he was thinking of going awa
replie
oked at him as if he thought that something was being kept back. And Gabriel, after
eeper to step in here for
ate door, and presently re
ed his chair back and sat idly swaying in it while he watched her and his uncle. But Gabriel, waving Mrs. Carswel
and evening, Mrs. Carswell," he said. "This is a most extraordinary business
Neale. The two partners listened; Gabriel keenly attent
y well-thank you, Mrs. Carswell. Neale," he added, when the housekeeper had go
" respon
ring me or Mr. Joseph Chestermarke unless you're obliged to. Of co
to get his dinner. Nor had anything been seen or heard at one o'clock, when Patten came back, and it became Shirley and Neale's turn to go out. And thereupon arose a diffi
irley. "I'll wait. Perhaps
d hostelry from time immemorial-but now they remained within their parlour, apparently interned from their usual business world. And Neale had a very good idea of what they were doing. The bank's strong room was
ich was loaded with papers and documents; Joseph leaned against a sideboard, whereon was a decanter of sherry and a box of biscuits; he had a glass of wine in one hand, and a half-nibbl
No? Take a glass of wine and eat a biscuit-we shal
d, too full of vague fears, to think of his midday dinner. He took the glass which Joseph handed
speak confidentially. There's something wrong-seriously wro
e set down his glass, and he looked helplessly from one partner to another. Joseph merely shook his head, and
d. "But there's the fact-on a superficial examinati
rmarke!" exclaimed Neale. "Sure
of biscuit off his bea
s-what's best to do? Because-he'd have laid his
worst of it. Everything points to premeditati
e glanced into the room with an obvious desire to see what was goi
sir," he announce
dent surprise; then Gabriel moved to the doo
ship come in?"
try-squire type of man, came into the r
me, but of course you'll do just as well. The Countess and I only got back from abro
ing forward a chair, took his hand
ls!" he said. "Does
ago-when we went abroad," replied Lord Ellersdean
is head-and Neale, glancing from one partner to the