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.And what was hisespecial interest in the crook solicitor? As though he were reading the other sthoughts Bliss went on quickly: Somebody told me that Meister was living in Deptford.Rather a comedown for him.When I knew him first, he had a wonderful practice in Lincoln sInn. And then with an abrupt nod he passed on the way he had been going whenWembury had called him back.Alan stood by the door of Meister s house andwatched the stranger till he was out of sight, and only then did he ring the bell.He had some time to wait, time for thought, though his thoughts were notpleasant.He dared not think of Mary, alone in that desolate little flat, with herbreaking heart and her despair.Nor of the boy he had known, sitting on hisplank bed, his head between his hands, ruin before him.Presently he heard a patter of slippered feet coming across the courtyard, andMeister s voice asked: Who is that? Wembury. A rattle of chains and a shooting of bolts, and the door opened.Though hewore his dressing-gown, Wembury saw, when they reached the dimly litpassage, that Meister was fully dressed; even his spats had not been removed. What is the trouble, Mr.Wembury? Alan did not know how many people slept in the house or what could beoverheard.Without invitation he walked up the stairs ahead of the lawyer intothe big room.The piano was open; sheets of music lay on the floor.Evidently52 Meister had been spending a musical evening.The lawyer closed the doorbehind him. Is it Johnny? he asked.Was it imagination on Alan s part, or was the lawyer s voice strained andhusky. Why should it be Johnny? he demanded. It is, as a matter of fact.Iarrested him an hour ago for the Darnleigh pearl robbery.He has asked me toget into communication with you. Maurice did not reply: he was looking down at the floor, apparently deep inthought. How did you come to get the information on which he was arrested, or didyou know all the time that Johnny was in this? he asked at last.Alan was looking at him keenly, and under his scrutiny the lawyer shuffleduneasily. I am not prepared to tell you that if you do not know! he said. But I havepromised Lenley that I will carry his message to you, and that ends my duty sofar as he is concerned. The lawyer s eyes were roving from one object in the room to another.Notonce did he look at Wembury. It is curious, he said, shaking his head sorrowfully, but I had apremonition that Johnny had been mixed up in this Darnleigh affair.What afool! Thank God his father is dead I don t think we need bother our heads with pious wishes, said Alanbluntly. The damnable fact is that Lenley is under arrest for a jewel robbery. You have the pearls? Alan nodded. They were in a cardboard box there was also a bracelet stolen, but that isnot i the box, he said slowly. Also I have seen a sign of an old label, and Inthink I shall be able to trace the original owner of the box. And then, to his astonishment, Meister said: Perhaps I can help you.I have an idea the box was mine.Johnny asked mefor one a week ago.Of course, I had no notion of why he wanted it, but I gave itto him.It may be another box altogether, but I should imagine the carton ismine. Momentarily Alan Wembury was staggered.He had had a faint hope that hemight be able to connect Meister with the robbery, the more so since he haddiscovered more than he had told.The half-obliterated label had obviously beenaddressed to Meister himself; yet the lawyer could not have been aware of thisfact.It was one of the slips that the cleverest criminals make.But so quick andglib was he that he has virtually destroyed all hope of proving his complicity in53 the robbery unless Johnny told.And Johnny was not the man who wouldbetray a confederate. What do you think he will get? asked Maurice. The sentence? You seem pretty certain that he is guilty. Maurice shrugged. What else can I think obviously you would not have arrested him withoutthe strongest possible evidence.It is a tragedy! Poor lad! And then all the dark places in this inexplicable betrayal were lit in oneblinding flash of understanding.Mary!Wembury had scoffed at the idea that Meister wished to get her brother out ofthe way.He could see no motive for such an act of treachery.But now all thehideous possibilities presented themselves to him, and he glared down at thelawyer.He knew Meister s reputation; knew the story of Gwenda Milton; knewother even less savoury details of Meister s past life.Was Mary the innocentcause of this wicked deed? Was it to gain domination over her that Johnny wasbeing sent into a living grave? This time Meister met his eyes and did notflinch.54 CHAPTER 15 I don t think you need trouble about Miss Lenley [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]