The Chestermarke Instinct
after opening the plate-chest, followed the new-comer in
id, as if accounting for the uncere
her, entered the arena of discussion a
e down from London to meet my uncle, and to go on with him to Scotland for a holiday, and I learn that he's disapp
nder this tornado of questions, motioned Joseph to place a chair for th
the fainting-to-order type of young woman. Just say what i
, with one of his peculiar smile
ppened there will be something for me to do, and it's foolish to sit down when one's go
bowed
our of addressi
ce," replied the young lady impatiently. "Mrs. Carswell has told you that already. Besides-you saw me, more t
eplied Gabriel suddenly, and losing hi
y is," repeated Joseph, in his suavest
him. It was a look which began with a swift speculation and ended in somethin
erence-if we knew!" he murmured.
shed her reflecti
u're Joseph Chestermarke. Now I will sit d
care to mention, disappeared on Saturday evening, and nobody knows where he is, nor whither he went. All we know is that we find some of our property missing-valuable securities. A
briel had finished, and Neale, silently watching her from the background, saw her fingers clen
ncle is a-thief?" she demande
Earl. "I-I-so far as I'm concer
ly. "But-you, Mr. Chestermarke?
of being a confirmed woman-hater, and it was plain that he w
y of much common sense!
well-to-do man! And if he wanted money, he'd only to come to me. It so happens that I'm one of the wealthiest young women in England. If my uncle had wanted a few thousands or tens of thousands to play ducks and drakes with, he'd only to ring me up on the tele
ace twitched a little,
I daresay they have their own way of looking at things-and of expressin
ly to develop into a passage-at-arms. "We're forgetting the suggestion made just bef
turned eagerl
"Do tell me? I'm sure you agree with
r and was staring out of the window, "suggests that Horbury may have met with an a
. She turned an indignant look on
ything to find my uncle?" she exclaimed with fiery e
ance until ten o'clock this morni
hours!" she said. "Has nothing been do
swered Gabriel. "It
ne step to the door
hink! Thank you, Lord Ellersdeane-and the other gentleman-for the suggestion. N
d the door, and Gabriel Cheste
police until-well, at any rate, tomorrow. We really do not know to what extent we are-but t
ink it's the best thing to do? To tell you the truth, considering
bowed
mine the contents of our strong room. We had been so occupied five hours when your lordship called. Do you think we could examine everything in five hours? No-nor in ten, nor in twenty! Our task is not one quarter complete! And why we don't wish publicity at once in here-we hold a vast number of securities and valuables belonging to customers. Title-deeds, mortgages-all sorts of things. We have valuables deposited with us. Up to now we don't know what is safe and what isn't. We do know this-certain securities of our own, easily convertible on the mar
s with an evident desire to comprehen
u that we only got home night before last-early on Saturday evening, as a matter of fact. Now, it was known in the town here that we'd returned-we drove through the Market-Place. Mayn't it be that Horbury saw us, or he
s might-and will-be raised, my
o carried our missing securities in his pocket?" asked Jos
wild-there's Ellersdeane Hollow, you know-a queer place on a dark night. And if a man took a short cut-as many people d
rdship propose to
uiry should be set goi
h drily. "Miss Fosdyke has bee
d be done by us,
ne to Superintendent Polke? Your duty will be to give him the mere information that Mr. Horbury left his house at a quarter to eight on Saturday evening and has not been he
They crossed the Market-Place in silence, but as they turned the corner of the Moot Ha
of all that, Mr. Neale!"
glanced at the E
t believe-?" he began
I can't account for those missing securities they talk about, but I'll stake my honour that Horbury hasn't
-Miss Fosdyke-from L
er wealth," rem
wealthy, too. She's the sole p
name on no end of public-houses in London. Sole proprietor? Dear me!-why, I have some
osdyke is their only child. Mr. Fosdyke died a few years ago, a
and up-to-date young lady, too: I liked the way she stood up to your principals. Of course
red that question
swered. "We want the solution of a problem: wh