★ 29 ★::A Gentleman of Leisure
The Last Round
He had only been gone a minutes when Mr. McEachern’s were again interrupted. This time the visitor was a to him—a dark-faced, clean-shaven man. He did not wear clothes, so not be one of the guests; and Mr. McEachern not place him immediately. Then he remembered. He had him in Sir Thomas Blunt’s room. This was Sir Thomas’s valet.
“Might I have a word with you, sir?”
“What is it?” asked McEachern, heavily. His mind had not from the of Lord Dreever’s remarks. There was something of a cloud on his brain. To judge from his lordship’s words, had been his back; and the idea of Molly him was too to be in an instant. He looked at the dully.
“What is it?” he asked again.
“I must for intruding, but I it best to approach you making my report to Sir Thomas.”
“Your report?”
“I am by a private agency.”
“What?”
“Yes, sir—Wragge’s. You may have of us, in Holborn Bars; very old established, a speciality. You will have the advertisements. Sir Thomas for a man, and the sent me down. I have been with the house some years. My job, I gathered, was to keep my open generally. Sir Thomas, it seemed, had no of any person. I was to be on the spot just in case, in a manner of speaking. And it’s lucky I was, or her ladyship’s would have been gone. I’ve done a this very night.”
He paused, and the ex-policeman keenly. McEachern was excited. Could Jimmy have an attempt on the the dance? Or Spike?
“Say,” he said, “was it a red headed——?”
The was him with a smile.
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“No, he wasn’t red headed. You interested, sir. I you would be. I will tell you all about it. I had had my of this party since he arrived. And I may say that it me at the time that there was something about the way he got into the castle.”
McEachern started. So he had not been the only one to Jimmy’s in attaching himself to Lord Dreever.
“Go on,” he said.
“I that there was some game on, and it me that this would be the day for the attempt, the house being down, in a manner of speaking, on account of the theatricals. And I was right. I near those on and off all day, and presently, just as I had thought, along comes this fellow. He’d got to the door when I was on him.”
“Good boy! You’re no rube.”
“We for a while, but, being a to the good in strength, and something about the game, I had the on him quick, and took him off and locked him in the cellar. That’s how it was, sir.”
Mr. McEachern’s was overwhelming. If Lord Dreever’s was correct, and Jimmy had succeeded in Molly’s affection, this would be a at the hour. It was with a Nunc Dimittis air he for his cigar case and it the detective. A cigar from his own private case was with him a mark of the and good will—a of which he only upon the few.
Usually it was with deference, but on this occasion there was a from routine, for, just as he was opening the case, something cold and hard pressed against each of his wrists; there was a and a click, and looking up, dazed, he saw that the had back, and was him with a over the of an ugly-looking little revolver.
Guilty or innocent, the thing a man does, when he on his wrists, is to try to them off. The action is automatic. Mr. McEachern at the till the out on his forehead. His great with rage.
The his with some satisfaction. The picture presented by the other, as he and tugged, was that of a man trapped.
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“It’s no good, my friend,” he said.
His voice McEachern to his senses. In the of the thing the man in him had him the of self-restraint. He had unthinkingly. Now he came to himself again.
He his hands furiously.
“What this mean?” he shouted. “What the——”
“Less noise,” said the sharply. “Get back!” he snapped, as the other took a step forward.
“Do you know who I am?” McEachern.
“No,” said the detective. “And that’s just why you’re those bracelets. Come, now, don’t be a fool, the game’s up; can’t you see that?”
McEachern against the billiard-table. He weak. Everything was unreal. Had he gone mad? he wondered.
“That’s right,” said the detective—“stay there. You can’t do any there. It was a little game, I’ll admit. You it well—meeting your old friend from New York and all, and having him to the castle. Very pretty. New York, indeed! Seen about as much of New York as I have of Timbuctoo. I saw through him.”
Some of the truth to McEachern’s consciousness. He had so with the idea that, as the was not Spike, it must be Jimmy, that the possibility of Mr. Galer being the of only upon him now.
“What do you mean?” he cried. “Who is it that you have arrested?”
“Blest if I know. You can tell me that, I should think, he’s an old Timbuctoo friend of yours. Galer’s the name he goes by here.”
“Galer!”
“That’s the man. And do you know what he had the impudence, the gall, to tell me? That he was in my own line of business. A detective! He said you had sent for him to come here.”
He laughed at the recollection.
“And so he is, you fool. So I did.”
“Oh, you did, did you? And what had you into other people’s houses?”
Mr. McEachern started to answer, but himself. Never 193before had he to the full the and truth of the proverb to the frying-pan and the fire. To clear himself he must mention his of Jimmy, and also his for those suspicions. And to do that would his past. It was Scylla and Charybdis.
A of his temple.
“What’s the good?” said the detective. “Mighty idea, that, only you hadn’t allowed for there being a in the house. It was that me that yarn that me of you. I put two and two together. ‘Partners,’ I said to myself. I’d all about you, with Sir Thomas and all. Mighty ingenious. You the old family friend, and then you let in your pal. He the and hands it over to you. Nobody of you, and there you are. Honestly, now, wasn’t that the game?”
“It’s all a mistake——” McEachern was beginning, when the door-handle turned.
The looked over his shoulder. McEachern dumbly. This was the blow, that there should be of his predicament.
Jimmy into the room.
“Dreever told me you were in here,” he said to McEachern. “Can you me a—— Halloa!”
The had his at the of the handle—to be was one of the articles in the of the men from Wragge’s Detective Agency—but are not easily concealed. Jimmy in at McEachern’s wrists.
“Some of a game?” he with interest.
The confidential.
“It’s this way, Mr. Pitt. There’s been some work going on here. There’s a regular of in the place. This here’s one of them.”
“What, Mr. McEachern?”
“That’s what he calls himself.”
It was all Jimmy do to keep himself from Mr. McEachern he his to drink. He himself with a shake of the at the captive. Then he took up the part of for the defence.
“I don’t it,” he said. “What makes you think so?”
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“Why, this I this man’s pal—the that calls himself Galer——”
“I know the man,” said Jimmy. “He’s a really. Mr. McEachern him here.”
The sleuth’s limply, as if he had a blow.
“What?” he said, in a voice.
“Didn’t I tell you——” Mr. McEachern; but the was with Jimmy. That of was to over him. Dimly he to that he had blundered.
“Yes,” said Jimmy. “Why, I can’t say; but Mr. McEachern was some one might try to Lady Julia Blunt’s rope of diamonds, so he to London for this man Galer. It was officious, perhaps, but not criminal. I if, legally, you a man for a thing like that. What have you done with good Mr. Galer?”
“I’ve locked him in the coal-cellar,” said the dismally. The of the in with the he had so was not exhilarating.
“Locked him in the cellar, did you?” said Jimmy. “Well, well, I say he’s very happy there. He’s black-beetles. Still, you had go and let him out. Possibly if you were to to him—— Eh? Just as you think—I only suggest. If you want somebody to for Mr. McEachern’s non-burglariousness, I can do it. He is a of private means, and we each other out in New York.”
“I thought——”
“That,” said Jimmy, with friendliness, “if you will allow me to say so, is the mistake you make. You do think.”
“It to me——”
He took the key of the from his pocket and with it. Mr. McEachern a low growl. It was enough.
“If you wouldn’t mind, Mr. Pitt,” said the obsequiously. He the key into Jimmy’s hands and fled. Jimmy the handcuffs. Mr. McEachern his wrists.
“Ingenious little things,” said Jimmy.
“I’m much to you,” Mr. McEachern, without looking up.
“Not at all—a pleasure. This 195is the devil, isn’t it? I a man who into a house in New York to win a bet, and to this day the owner of the house thinks him a professional burglar.”
“What’s that?” said Mr. McEachern sharply.
“Why do I say ‘a man’? Why am I so and mysterious? You’re right. It more dramatic; but, after all, what you want is facts. Very well. I into your house that night to win a bet. That’s the truth.”
McEachern was at him. Jimmy proceeded.
“You are just about to ask—what was Spike Mullins doing with me? Well, Spike had into my an hour before, and I took him along with me as a of guide, philosopher, and friend.”
“Spike Mullins said you were a from England.”
“I’m I him to think so. I had been to see the opening performance of a burglar-play called Love, the Cracksman, that night, and I off on Spike some I had from a of mine who played lead in the show. I told you when I came in that I had been talking to Lord Dreever. Well, what he was saying to me was that he had met this very actor-man, a called Mifflin—Arthur Mifflin—in London just he met me. He’s in London now, for a that’s come over from America. You see the of this item? It means that if you my all you need to do is to Mifflin—I what theatre his play is on at, but you out in a second—and ask him to corroborate. Are you satisfied?”
McEachern did not answer. An hour he would have to the last for his in Jimmy’s crookedness, but the events of the last ten minutes had him. He something of a in Jimmy’s favour.
“Look here, Mr. McEachern,” said Jimmy, “I wish you would to me for a minute or two. There’s no on earth why we should be at one another’s in this way. We might just as well be friends. Let’s shake hands and call the off. I you know why I came here to see you?” McEachern did not speak.
“You know that your has off her to Lord Dreever?”
“Then he was right!” said McEachern, to himself. “It is you?”
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Jimmy nodded. McEachern his on the table and at him.
“Is Molly——?” he said, at length. “Does Molly——?”
“Yes,” said Jimmy.
McEachern his drumming.
“Don’t think there’s been anything about this,” said Jimmy. “She to do anything unless you gave your consent. She said you had been partners all her life, and she was going to do the square thing by you.”
“She did?” said McEachern eagerly.
“I think you ought to do the square thing by her. I’m not much, but she wants me. Do the square thing by her.”
McEachern was in of him. There was a look in his which Jimmy had there before—a frightened, look.
“It’s too late,” he out. “I’ll be square with her now, but it’s too late. I won’t in her way when I can make her happy. But I’ll her! Oh, my God, I’ll her!
“Did you think I had said to myself,” he on, “the you said to me that day when we met here? Did you think I didn’t know what I was? Who should know it than myself? But she didn’t—I’d it from her. I’d for she would out some day. When I came over here I I was safe; and then you came, and I saw you together. I you were a crook—you were with Mullins in New York—I told her you were a crook.”
“You told her that?”
“I said I it. I couldn’t tell her the truth why I so. I said I had in New York and out about you.”
Jimmy saw now. The was solved. So that was why Molly had allowed them to her into the with Dreever.
“I see,” he said slowly.
McEachern the table in silence.
“I see,” said Jimmy again. “You she’ll want an explanation?”
He for a moment.
“You must tell her,” he said quickly. “For your own you must tell her. Go and do it now. Wake up, man!” He him by the shoulder. “Go and do it now. She’ll you. Don’t be 197afraid of that. Go and look for her and tell her now.”
McEachern himself.
“I will,” he said.
“It’s the only way,” said Jimmy.
McEachern opened the door, then a pace. Jimmy voices in the passage outside. He Lord Dreever’s.
McEachern to away from the door.
Lord Dreever entered, with Molly on his arm.
“Halloa!” said his lordship, looking round.
“Halloa, Pitt! Here we all are; what?”
“Lord Dreever wanted to smoke,” said Molly.
She smiled, but there was in her eyes. She looked at her father and at Jimmy.
“Molly, my dear,” said McEachern huskily, “I want to speak to you for a moment.”
Jimmy took his by the arm.
“Come along, Dreever,” he said. “You can come and out with me. We’ll go and on the terrace.”
They left the room together.
“What the old boy want?” his lordship. “Are you and Miss McEachern——?”
“We are,” said Jimmy.
“By Jove! I say, old chap! Million and all that of rot, you know!”
His had to his in the after a while; but Jimmy sat on, and thinking.
In the the opening of the door at the top of the steps came to his ears. He looked up. Two were for a moment against the light, and then the door closed again. They to move slowly the steps.
Jimmy had them. He got up. He was in the shadow; they not see him. They to walk the terrace. They were close now. Neither was speaking, but presently, when they were but a away, they stopped. There was the of a match, and McEachern a cigar. In the yellow light his was visible. Jimmy looked, and was content.
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