before. What was that great, In a moment I passed the Once more the amiable Mr reader of this account, given what I knew up to this point, can honestly say that he would have put that question? Well, I got home and sat down to high tea with Dr Rendall, and of course he began to talk of the Uruguay's visit. Even if nothing else had happened afterwards, such an event would have given Ransay food for several days' conversation. "We are probably eating our last eggs and our last butter for the next week to come," he said with a laugh, "These sailors have cleared the island out, from all I can hear. They've even been to this house and got what they could, and I believe they practically cleaned out my cousin's farm. "Really?" said Mr Hobhouse. "Really indeed? Ha, ha! Do you know, I found even the Scollays' selling them things?" "Oh, I expect every one has been making hay while the sun shines," said he. He had had one of his moody attacks so lately as the day before, but he had quite recovered his good humour by now, and in fact was in an extra jovial mood that evening. We sat up till about half-past ten, and then went up to our bedrooms. I had reached the stage of pyjamas and was just opening my window for the night when the dreadful thing happened. Suddenly the Suddenly the whole island seemed to be illuminated. I turned my eyes instinctively to the place where the Uruguay lay, and there high into the set, and there being no witnesses, neither of us luckily had to act. "Well, Jack?” I said. "Did you see it happen?" he demanded. "I happened to be at my window." "Tell me what you saw," said he. I told him, and he nodded at intervals. "Just what a couple of other witnesses have told me," he said. "Submarine?" I asked. He shook his head. "The odds against a torpedo sending a ship straight up like that are enormous. And one would have heard two explosions which nobody did. Besides, the one man who was picked up has luckily been able to talk a little already. I am certain there was no torpedo attack." "She simply blew up, He thought in silence for a few moments, and then he glanced at his watch. "Look here, old chap," he said, "I'm afraid I must be getting off again now. Walk back with me as far as it's safe, and I'll tell you something that you must know. We can discuss the evidence later, when a little more has been collected. The point that concerns you is that Bolton bas been sent for again." "The devil he has ! Do I retire, then?" "Not at all. You see, nobody in these parts is in the Hobhouse secret, so they sent for Bolton at once to make his own kind of inquiries while we make ours. You, of course, go on making yours in your own way just the same. All the same, I think it would be tactful to stand aside-with your eyes open, of course while Bolton is on the job." "Tactful," I agreed, "but a little annoying. "Well, Roger, it can't be helped, I'm afraid. I'm not the boss here, and the man is on on his way now as fast as he can travel. And now, what about telling him who you really are? I've been thinking it over, and if you are agreeable I think I ought to." I saw that this meant that he had decided he was going to, so I merely said"If you think it best, certainly tell him. Only swear him to secrecy.' Certainly. And I'm sure the man himself will see the point in that. But, you see, really were, he'd very likely put you down as a suspicious character and recommend your removal." if I didn't tell him who you gruesome stories and the wildest rumours, but for most of the time Mr Hobhouse stayed at home and finished his novel. It was on the evening of the day after the tragedy, when the doctor and he were sitting over the smoking-room fire, lighting their pipes after tea, that the bell rang. "You're quite right," right," I agreed. Besides, what you know may help him, and it would be a dog-in-the-manger kind of game to keep back anything, now that he has taken up the business." 'Right again. Well, I'll keep my nose out of the business till Bolton has had his innings." "Good man!" said Jack. "Well, we'd better separate now. Good luck to you both!" "Hallo, who's that at this hour?" said the doctor. I heard a heavy footstep in the passage, and guessed, but the only announcement was that a gentleman wished to see Dr Rendall. He was out of the room for a long time, nearly an hour by the clock, and when he came back his manner W88 serious and a little apologetic. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr Hobhouse," said he, "and I trust I am not of an unduly jealous disposition, but being thus asked to take a back seat just as something really definite had happened I assure you there is nothing was a strain on my philosophy. to worry about, but the fact The tragedy of the Uruguay is & detective is here and might not have anything to wants to have a word with do with the secret agency in you." the island-though I felt in my bones it had-and Mr Bolton might come and go and leave me possibly with a little information to help my own quest. Still, it was annoying. At the same time, my cousin's arguments were absolutely sound, and I saw perfectly that it would have been both foolish and ungenerous to play Hobhouse with the man. So I went back and picked up a novel and tried to dismiss the whole business from my mind in the meantime. For the next twenty-four hours the island was full of "A detective!" exolaimed Mr Hobhouse nervously. "You don't say so? Dear me, what can he want me for!" "He's a man Bolton," said the doctor, "the very man who 08me up about six months ago under the name of Thompson and gave himself out as a a cattle-dealer. By Jove, I can see now what he came for! But anyhow it's about the Uruguay busi ness this time, and he is interviewing everybody, and, if you don't mind, he'd like a few words with you.' I went into the dining-room and saw for the first time my "Better speak quietly, Mr Merton," said he. I nodded, and said with a smile "So you are not here as a dealer this time, Mr Bolton?" “No,” said he, "I want to get straight to business, and there's too much humbug and waste of time if one has to talk cattle for half an hour first. Besides, after what has just happened they'd be quite sharp enough here to tumble to the game. Anyhow, the people I want to get at would be, and there's no point in humbugging the others." "Well," I said, "you know what I'm here for, and though I'm sorry to say I haven't been able to pick up much so far, anything I have picked up is at your service.' "Much obliged, Mr Merton," said he. "We're like a couple of terriers after the same rat, and as long as we get him that's all that matters. You've had your go, and now I'm going to have a little go." He laughed genially, but it was clear enough that when he said two terriers, he meant terrier at a time, and I accepted the situation frankly. one "Right you are,” I said; "I'll take a breather while you go in and finish him off. Only, of course, if you want me to lend a hand, here I am, with nothing else to do." He seemed distinctly relieved by this declaration and grew more friendly than ever. "Well, now to come to business, " he said. "I must tell you frankly in the first place, Mr Merton, that there were some things in your story last time you were here that I didn't know just how much to believe in. The most truthful people sometimes imagine the queerest things. If you'd had my experience, Mr Merton, you'd feel just the same about a tale like yours. But now I know you and know what's been happening here, and partioularly what's happened yesterday, it's a different story. Do you mind just telling me in your own words about what you saw last time and anything you've noticed this trip?" My opinion of Mr Bolton's shrewdness continued to rise as I noticed his close attention to my tale, and how much to the point his questions were. Every now and then he stopped me while he made a jotting in a fat, little brown - leather pocketbook, and at the end he observed— "Well, Mr Merton, it's a queer case, but I dare say I may be able to throw a bit of light on things before I've done. I wondered very much, and from the look on his face I do not believe for a moment that he saw a single blink of light at that time. "And now," said he, "com |
