FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   >>  
sely, speaking for the first time since he had entered Schmidt's office. He was obviously excited, and excitement is a powerful foe of good resolutions, with which the moral pavement is littered in Hungary and elsewhere. "That does not affect the charge of complicity," said Steingall thoughtfully. "A man may be an accomplice, though the actual crime is committed at a time and place when he is far distant. It is possible for an accomplice to be in Paris, or on the high seas, while a victim is falling under an assassin's knife in New York. A man, or a number of men, can even be what I may term unconscious accomplices, in the sense that their actions and instructions have brought about a crime, though their intent may have stopped short of actual violence. I assure you, my lord, the arm of the law reaches far when life is taken, and the death of a popular and prominent journalist like Mr. Hunter will be inquired into most searchingly." The detective spoke so impressively that Lord Valletort eyed him with a species of misgiving, while Count Vassilan, whose knowledge of English was excellent, had broken out into a perspiration. A smooth, mellifluous voice suddenly intervened. Otto Schmidt thought fit to assume a role for which Lord Valletort was manifestly ill equipped. "We seem to be dealing with two items which, though related, by accident, as it were, yet differ widely. The Earl of Valletort is interested only in his daughter's marriage, Mr. Steingall." The detective wheeled round on him. "Precisely, Mr. Schmidt, but it happens, unfortunately, that the marriage of Lady Hermione and Mr. Curtis was the direct outcome of the murder of Mr. Hunter. More than that, Mr. Hunter met his death because of the plot and counter-plot attending the preliminary arrangements for her ladyship's marriage. The two events, so far apart in their nature, thus become indissolubly connected." "And is that why we are to have the pleasure of seeing Monsieur de Courtois?" "Yes." "Perhaps, before he comes, you will be good enough to give us some idea, informally of course, as to the statement,--or, shall I say revelation?--he may make." "It is asking a good deal of a police official," said Steingall, smiling pleasantly, "but if I am assured that the discussion will really be regarded as informal, I am ready to speak quite openly." "It is a characteristic of yours, Mr. Steingall, which has often commanded the admirat
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   >>  



Top keywords:

Steingall

 

marriage

 

Hunter

 
Valletort
 
Schmidt
 

detective

 
actual
 

accomplice

 

events

 

related


murder
 

ladyship

 

attending

 

preliminary

 

arrangements

 
counter
 

outcome

 

dealing

 

Curtis

 
daughter

wheeled

 
differ
 

interested

 

widely

 

Precisely

 

Hermione

 

speaking

 
accident
 

direct

 

pleasantly


smiling

 

assured

 

discussion

 

official

 

police

 

revelation

 

regarded

 

commanded

 

admirat

 

characteristic


openly

 

informal

 

statement

 

pleasure

 

Monsieur

 

indissolubly

 
connected
 

Courtois

 

informally

 

Perhaps