American library books ยป Fiction ยป Dope by Sax Rohmer (desktop ebook reader txt) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซDope by Sax Rohmer (desktop ebook reader txt) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Sax Rohmer



1 ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 79
Go to page:

โ€œIf anything has happened to Rita I'll kill that damned cur Pyne!โ€

โ€œYou 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.

โ€œI'm going to see the thing through,โ€ he said hoarsely.

โ€œQuite 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:

โ€œI quite understand, old chap,โ€ he said, linking his arm in Gray's. โ€œBut can't you see how important it is, for everybody's sake, that we should tackle the thing coolly?โ€

โ€œSetonโ€โ€”Gray's voice brokeโ€”โ€œI'm sorry. I know I'm mad; but I was with her only an hour ago, and nowโ€”โ€

โ€œAnd 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.

โ€œWhat do you mean, Seton?โ€ asked Gray.

โ€œI mean does he approve of your friendship with his wife, or is it a clandestine affair?โ€

โ€œClandestine?โ€”certainly not. I was on my way to call at the house when I met her with Pyne this evening.โ€

โ€œThat 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€

โ€œAt Kazmah's door! What in heaven's name does it mean?โ€

โ€œIt 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.

โ€œWhat's the trouble, Pattison?โ€ he demanded breathlessly. โ€œI saw police in the car a moment ago.โ€

โ€œYes, 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:

โ€œMove on, there,โ€ he said to Seton and Gray. โ€œYou mustn't hang about this door.โ€

โ€œExcuse me, Sergeant,โ€ cried Gray, โ€œbut 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.

โ€œWhat is your name, sir?โ€ he asked. โ€œI'll mention it to the officer in charge.โ€

โ€œQuentin Gray. Inform Mr. Monte Irvin that I wish to speak to him.โ€

โ€œVery good, sir.โ€ He turned to the chauffeur. โ€œHand 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.

โ€œWe're in for it now,โ€ said Seton grimly, โ€œwhatever 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.

โ€œStep 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.

โ€œThat you, Gray?โ€ Quentin Gray would not have recognized the voice. โ€œThanks for offering your help. God knows I need all I can get. You were with Rita tonight. What happened? Where is she?โ€

โ€œHeaven knows where she is!โ€ cried Gray. โ€œI 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.

โ€œWhy,โ€ said Gray, โ€œI believe you are the fellow who has been following me all night for some reason.โ€

He stepped toward the foxy little man but:

โ€œNever mind, Gray,โ€ interrupted Irvin. โ€œI 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.

โ€œTo 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€

โ€œYou knocked?โ€

โ€œOf 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.

โ€œWe may as well proceed, Inspector Whiteleaf,โ€ he said. โ€œMr. Gray's evidence throws no light on the matter at all.โ€

โ€œVery well, sir,โ€ was the reply; โ€œwe 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.

โ€œShall I try to cut through the panel?โ€ he asked.

โ€œNo, no!โ€ cried Monte Irvin. โ€œWaste no time. You have a crowbar there. Force the door from its hinges. Hurry, man!โ€

โ€œIt doesn't work on hinges!โ€ Gray interrupted excitedly. โ€œIt slides to the right by means of some arrangement concealed under the mat.โ€

โ€œPass 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.

โ€œA metal plate,โ€ he said. โ€œThe 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.

โ€œHold steady!โ€ said the Inspector, standing at his elbow.

1 ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 79
Go to page:

Free e-book: ยซDope by Sax Rohmer (desktop ebook reader txt) ๐Ÿ“•ยป   -   read online now on website american library books (americanlibrarybooks.com)

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment