Dope by Sax Rohmer (desktop ebook reader txt) ๐
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- Author: Sax Rohmer
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โIf anything has happened to Rita I'll kill that damned cur Pyne!โ
โYou are determined to intrude upon this man in your present frame of mind at a time of evident trouble?โ
But Gray was deaf to the promptings of prudence and good taste alike.
โI'm going to see the thing through,โ he said hoarsely.
โQuite so. Rely upon me. But endeavor to behave more like a man of the world and less like a dangerous lunatic, or we shall quarrel atrociously.โ
Quentin Gray audibly gnashed his teeth, but the cool stare of the other's eyes was quelling, and now as their glances met and clashed, a sympathetic smile softened the lines of Seton's grim mouth, and:
โI quite understand, old chap,โ he said, linking his arm in Gray's. โBut can't you see how important it is, for everybody's sake, that we should tackle the thing coolly?โ
โSetonโโGray's voice brokeโโI'm sorry. I know I'm mad; but I was with her only an hour ago, and nowโโ
โAnd now 'her' husband appears on the scene accompanied by a police inspector and a sergeant. What are your relations with Mr. Monte Irvin?โ
They were walking rapidly again along Bond Street.
โWhat do you mean, Seton?โ asked Gray.
โI mean does he approve of your friendship with his wife, or is it a clandestine affair?โ
โClandestine?โcertainly not. I was on my way to call at the house when I met her with Pyne this evening.โ
โThat is what I wanted to know. Very well; since you intend to follow the thing up, it simplifies matters somewhat. Here is the car.โ
โAt Kazmah's door! What in heaven's name does it mean?โ
โIt means that we shall get a very poor reception if we intrude. Question the chauffeur.โ
But Gray had already approached the man, who touched his cap in recognition.
โWhat's the trouble, Pattison?โ he demanded breathlessly. โI saw police in the car a moment ago.โ
โYes, sir. I don't rightly know, sir, what's happened. But Mr. Irvin drove from home to the corner of old Bond Street a quarter of an hour ago and told me to wait, then came back again and drove round to Vine Street to fetch the police. They're inside now.โ
Even as he spoke, with excitement ill-concealed, a police-sergeant came out of the doorway, and:
โMove on, there,โ he said to Seton and Gray. โYou mustn't hang about this door.โ
โExcuse me, Sergeant,โ cried Gray, โbut if the matter concerns Mrs. Monte Irvin I can probably supply information.โ
The Sergeant stared at him hard, saw that both he and his friend wore evening dress, and grew proportionately respectful.
โWhat is your name, sir?โ he asked. โI'll mention it to the officer in charge.โ
โQuentin Gray. Inform Mr. Monte Irvin that I wish to speak to him.โ
โVery good, sir.โ He turned to the chauffeur. โHand me out the bag I gave you at Vine Street.โ Pattison leaned over the door at the front of the car, and brought out a big leather grip. With this in hand the police-sergeant returned into the doorway.
โWe're in for it now,โ said Seton grimly, โwhatever it is.โ
Gray returned no answer, moving restlessly up and down before the door in a fever of excitement and dread. Presently the Sergeant reappeared.
โStep this way, please,โ he said.
Followed by Seton and Gray he led the way up to the landing before Kazmah's apartments. It was vaguely lighted by two police-lanterns. Four men were standing there, and four pairs of eyes were focussed upon the stair-head.
Monte Irvin, his features a distressing ashen color, spoke.
โThat you, Gray?โ Quentin Gray would not have recognized the voice. โThanks for offering your help. God knows I need all I can get. You were with Rita tonight. What happened? Where is she?โ
โHeaven knows where she is!โ cried Gray. โI left her here with Pyne shortly after seven o'clock.โ
He paused, fixing his gaze upon the face of Brisley, whose shifty eyes avoided him and who was licking his lips in the manner of a dog who has seen the whip.
โWhy,โ said Gray, โI believe you are the fellow who has been following me all night for some reason.โ
He stepped toward the foxy little man but:
โNever mind, Gray,โ interrupted Irvin. โI was to blame. But he was following my wife, not you. Tell me quickly: Why did she come here?โ
Gray raised his hand to his brow with a gesture of bewilderment.
โTo consult this man, Kazmah. I actually saw her enter the inner room, I went to get a cab, and when I returned the door was locked.โ
โYou knocked?โ
โOf course. I made no end of a row. But I could get no reply and went away.โ
Monte Irvin turned, a pathetic figure, to the Inspector who stood beside him.
โWe may as well proceed, Inspector Whiteleaf,โ he said. โMr. Gray's evidence throws no light on the matter at all.โ
โVery well, sir,โ was the reply; โwe have the warrant, and have given the usual notice to whoever may be hiding inside. Burton!โ
The Sergeant stepped forward, placed the leather bag on the floor, and stooping, opened it, revealing a number of burglarious-looking instruments.
โShall I try to cut through the panel?โ he asked.
โNo, no!โ cried Monte Irvin. โWaste no time. You have a crowbar there. Force the door from its hinges. Hurry, man!โ
โIt doesn't work on hinges!โ Gray interrupted excitedly. โIt slides to the right by means of some arrangement concealed under the mat.โ
โPass that lantern,โ directed Burton, glancing over his shoulder to Gunn.
Setting it beside him, the Sergeant knelt and examined the threshold of the door.
โA metal plate,โ he said. โThe weight moves a lever, I suppose, which opens the door if it isn't locked. The lock will be on the left of the door as it opens to the right. Let's see what we can do.โ
He stood up, crowbar in hand, and inserted the chisel blade of the implement between the edge of the door and the doorcase.
โHold steady!โ said the Inspector, standing at his elbow.
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