The Crooked House

ple

ssess their criminal organizations. His bag had included many famous law-breakers, and, though now employed in less strenuous directions, he was admitted to be one of the most skilful and reliable

here in this garden to-nigh

e theatrical m

when, concluding it, he carefully replaced the covering and turned again to the others, there was a concentrated gleam i

o pulp; some of the hair has been wrenched from her head; and even the bones of her fingers are broken. It is the

o an attendant constabl

," he requested, "I will take a separate account from every on

e filled with complaints at this prolonged detention. Copplestone remai

e," he said, in a slow life

imself at a table, and

, "and I am afraid it is poor consolation to promise you that ju

ary, monotonous voice. "Of what use is Justice?

can do. Will you answer a few questions, as clearly and briefly as possibl

nd passed an unsteady h

" he sa

id you first meet

iece at the Imperial. I have an interest in the theater, and sa

of her life and asso

nicative. She only told me a fe

, "had she an enemy in this country-or was th

plestone returned. "I did n

sson, he described the visit of the young million

man?" the inspector asked,

s Lay

Fay looked

they call the Mad

plestone replied we

table fanatic, who does more good in the East End than all the Royally Patronized

stone stated. "I had not heard of him u

or made sev

ve with him...." He closed his note-book with a snap. "You say the words he used were that rather than allow Mi

answered heavily. "I was not in

eft quite

es

show any particular

uld have sent for the police at once, but she begged me not to, and insi

no doubt that

certainly

the garden when you were all out af

es

saw

und him sneaking about the house, and cha

ee him, beside

-but I had gone into the house to fill m

r. Bolsover, and w

es

lowly, "who might, for any reason, have enterta

e sharpened a littl

s," he admitted, wi

was

ne paused

he inspector pressed firmly

wasn't altogether playing the game to anno

nspector insi

lis Astl

he inspector waited quietly. With

nd announced the news in a dramatic way ... to mock her." He broke off, staring at the rema

m closely. He seemed to

n to be jealous of Miss Manderson

se ... s

d re

ssi

ause to believe that you inte

had not given her definite ca

hisper. He leant back

t present," the inspector said. "Who was the last person t

scarcely ope

left him to go back to the house, and asked

e find

t once went i

u when Mr. Tra

second lawn-toward

was busy with

you

told you. I was looking for Miss Manderson, and wondering where she had got t

ken to you, you say you we

and came out again just as Mr. Delamere gave

o silence. A convulsive s

omething seemed to give way ... here...." he pressed his hands

specto

ndly give me the names of yo

slowly. Inspector Fay

to give you the pain of answering so many questions. I am afraid you

ed, rising weakly from his

mself made a ges

me in," he apologized, stifling a yawn. "Tobacco is the onl

produced an elaborately jeweled gold ciga

two cigar

impassive countenance, and returned the c

e to my man," he said dully-"and let me kn

ing between the same curtains through which, a few hours b

e cigarette thoughtfully, a very curious expression

me," he muttered-and laid

stable had mounted guard over his prisoners with extraordinary d

ont," the ins

he summons-and Monsieur D