A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg

Author:Leonard Goldberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

11

The Halifaxes

“It is a close match,” said I, comparing the sketch of the footprint in the clearing to that present on the attic floor. “Very close indeed.”

Joanna shone her torch directly on the footprint and asked, “Does it reveal an uneven left heel?”

“It is impossible to tell, for the dust is not deep enough to allow for such details.”

“Most unfortunate,” Joanna said, helping me to my feet. “A perfect match would have been of great significance.”

“Yet the similarity of the two footprints must be taken into account.”

“It must indeed, for they may well connect the thief in the attic to the secret lodger at the inn. Both are obviously important in this regard, but it is the footprint in the clearing that continues to arouse my curiosity.”

“Is that because it most likely belongs to the mysterious lodger?”

“There is yet a more intriguing reason,” Joanna elucidated. “Assuming the footprint in the mud did in fact belong to the secret lodger, why would he find it necessary to slip out to the clearing in the darkness of night?”

I gave the matter thought before saying, “As I recall there were no clues to indicate his purpose nor do we know on which night he made the footprint.”

“Perhaps Walter, the waiter, gave us that information, while regaling his audience at the local pub,” Joanna hinted.

The waiter’s late-evening sighting of the secret lodger immediately came to mind. “To meet Elizabeth Halifax! He may have made the footprint on his way to meet Elizabeth.”

“That is a distinct possibility. Also, you will recall that there was rain that afternoon, but none since. Thus the footprint was made the night the secret lodger crept out to join up with Elizabeth.”

“But can we trust the waiter’s story?”

“Do you doubt he saw the secret lodger leave through his window in the darkness?”

“I do not.”

“Thus, Walter must have watched the lodger exit, which strongly indicates he was in a position to view the meeting that took place in the clearing.”

I nodded at Joanna’s conclusion. “And Walter mentioned he only had a clear view when the moon peeked through the clouds.”

Joanna nodded back. “So for now we must assume that Walter’s account of that evening is accurate and that the secret lodger did in fact meet with Elizabeth Halifax.”

“But why would she bother to meet with the secret lodger who may well be our thief?”

“Has it crossed your mind that she may be acting on behalf of the Halifax family?”

I was stunned by the possibility, to say the least. “In a plan to obtain the missing document.”

“At a price, of course.”

“Unbelievable!”

“We shall see.”

We walked along the attic passageway back to the trapdoor above the closet, looking for areas where the dust might have settled deeper and allowed for more distinct footprints, but found none. On reaching the area of the library, we could hear the voices of the Halifaxes below.

“Were they the least bit suspicious?” I asked quietly.

“None whatsoever,” Joanna replied in a soft voice. “They expect a progress report.”

“Will you give them one?”

“Yes, but not the one they expect.

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