“I have been listening to her for the last five minutes, but didnot wish to interrupt your most interesting narrative. Just a littlewheezy, Susan, are you not? You breathe too heavily for that kindof work.”
Susan turned a sulky but amazed face upon her captor. “Who beyou, anyhow, and what right have you a-pullin’ me about like this?”
“It was merely that I wished to ask a question in your presence.
Did you, Mrs. Maberley, mention to anyone that you were goingto write to me and consult me?”
“No, Mr. Holmes, I did not.”
“Who posted your letter?”
“Susan did.”
“Exactly. Now, Susan, to whom was it that you wrote or sent amessage to say that your mistress was asking advice from me?”
“It’s a lie. I sent no message.”
“Now, Susan, wheezy people may not live long, you know. It’s awicked thing to tell fibs. Whom did you tell?”
“Susan!” cried her mistress, “I believe you are a bad, treacherouswoman. I remember now that I saw you speaking to someone overthe hedge.”
“That was my own business,” said the woman sullenly.
“Suppose I tell you that it was Barney Stockdale to whom youspoke?” said Holmes.
“Well, if you know, what do you want to ask for?”
“I was not sure, but I know now. Well now, Susan, it will beworth ten pounds to you if you will tell me who is at the back ofBarney.”
“Someone that could lay down a thousand pounds for every tenyou have in the world.”
“So, a rich man? No; you smiled—a rich woman. Now we havegot so far, you may as well give the name and earn the tenner.”
“I’ll see you in hell first.”
“Oh, Susan! Language!”
“I am clearing out of here. I’ve had enough of you all. I’ll sendfor my box to-morrow.” She flounced for the door.
“Good-bye, Susan. Paregoric is the stuff.... Now,” he continued,turning suddenly from lively to severe when the door had closedbehind the flushed and angry woman, “this gang means business.
Look how close they play the game. Your letter to me had the 10P.M. postmark. And yet Susan passes the word to Barney. Barneyhas time to go to his employer and get instructions; he or she—Iincline to the latter from Susan’s grin when she thought I hadblundered—forms a plan. Black Steve is called in, and I am warnedoff by eleven o’clock next morning. That’s quick work, you know.”
“But what do they want?”
“Yes, that’s the question. Who had the house before you?”
“A retired sea captain called Ferguson.”
“Anything remarkable about him?”
“Not that ever I heard of.”
“I was wondering whether he could have buried something. Ofcourse, when people bury treasure nowadays they do it in the Post-Office bank. But there are always some lunatics about. It wouldbe a dull world without them. At first I thought of some buriedvaluable. But why, in that case, should they want your furniture?
You don’t happen to have a Raphael or a first folio Shakespearewithout knowing it?”
“No, I don’t think I have anything rarer than a Crown Derbytea-set.”
“That would hardly justify all this mystery. Besides, why shouldthey not openly state what they want? If they covet your tea-set,they can surely offer a price for it without buying you out, lock,stock, and barrel. No, as I read it, there is something which you donot know that you have, and which you would not give up if youdid know.”
“That is how I read it,” said I.
“Dr. Watson agrees, so that settles it.”
“Well, Mr. Holmes, what can it be?”
“Let us see whether by this purely mental analysis we can get itto a finer point. You have been in this house a year.”
“Nearly two.”
“All the better. During this long period no one wants anythingfrom you. Now suddenly within three or four days you have urgentdemands. What would you gather from that?”
“It can only mean,” said I, “that the object, whatever it may be,has only just come into the house.”
“Settled once again,” said Holmes. “Now, Mrs. Maberley has anyobject just arrived?”
“No, I have bought nothing new this year.”
“Indeed! That is very remarkable. Well, I think we had best letmatters develop a little further until we have clearer data. Is thatlawyer of yours a capable man?”
“Mr. Sutro is most capable.”
“Have you another maid, or was the fair Susan, who has justbanged your front door alone?”
“I have a young girl.”
“Try and get Sutro to spend a night or two in the house. Youmight possibly want protection.”
“Against whom?”
“Who knows? The matter is certainly obscure. If I can’t findwhat they are after, I must approach the matter from the otherend and try to get at the principal. Did this house-agent man giveany address?”
“Simply his card and occupation. Haines-Johnson, Auctioneerand Valuer.”
“I don’t think we shall find him in the directory. Honestbusiness men don’t conceal their place of business. Well, you willlet me know any fresh development. I have taken up your case,and you may rely upon it that I shall see it through.”
As we passed through the hall Holmes’s eyes, which missednothing, lighted upon several trunks and cases which were piled ina corner. The labels shone out upon them.
“ ‘Milano.’ ‘Lucerne.’ These are from Italy.”
“They are poor Douglas’s things.”
“You have not unpacked them? How long have you had them?”
“They arrived last week.”
“But you said—why, surely this might be the missing link. Howdo we know that there is not something of value there?”
“There could not possibly be, Mr. Holmes. Poor Douglas hadonly his pay and a small annuity. What could he have of value?”
Holmes was lost in thought.
“Delay no longer, Mrs. Maberley,” he said at last. “Have thesethings taken upstairs to your bedroom. Examine them as soonas possible and see what they contain. I will come tomorrow andhear your report.”
It was quite evident that The Three Gables was under very closesurveillance, for as we came round the high hedge at the end ofthe lane there was the negro prize-fighter standing in the shadow.
We came on him quite suddenly, and a grim and menacing figurehe looked in that lonely place. Holmes clapped his hand to hispocket.
“Lookin’ for your gun, Masser Holmes?”
“No, for my scent-bottle, Steve.”
“You are funny, Masser Holmes, ain’t you?”
