Invisible Death by Flynn Brian

Author:Flynn, Brian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: amazon

CHAPTER XIV

THE WRIST-WATCH AND THE LETTER

On the following morning, Mr. Bathurst was the unwilling recipient of yet another shock. He had risen early, dressed quickly and come downstairs to breakfast with Mr. Daventry. None of the ladies had put in an appearance when he and Peter arrived in the breakfast room, and Colonel Nicholas Fane seemed but a shadow of his former rather aggressive self. When he had finished a somewhat meagre meal (for him), Anthony claimed his attention.

“Mrs. Whittaker? How is she this morning, Colonel? Have either you or Mrs. Fane seen her yet?”

“I have not, Bathurst. To tell the truth, I don’t want to—in fact, I have shirked the encounter. What can I say to her? What can one ever say in affairs like this? But I believe my wife is with her now. I left her under the impression that she was going to Mrs. Whittaker.” He shrugged his shoulders in a kind of helpless resignation. “Why do you ask? Had you any special reason?”

“Yes, Colonel Fane. I fear that it is necessary for me to see her as soon as possible. Perhaps you would be kind enough to ask her for the interview? Yes?”

The Colonel nodded acquiescently.

“All right, I will. Can I help you at all, my boy? If so, by all means command me. I’ve had poor old Whittaker moved into one of the bedrooms.”

Anthony rose and thrust his hands deep into his trousers pockets.

“Thank you, Colonel. It seems to me there is one thing certain. The ladies must be got away from here some time to-day. There is no doubt in my mind that those devils whom we entertained last night like us so much that they are bound to call again. It will be no place for women when they do. Make arrangements with Mrs. Fane, will you, Colonel? I’ll leave that to you and her.”

“What about the women on the Major’s staff?”

“Whom do you mean—the people in the kitchen?”

“Partly, and I was partly thinking of Miss Whittingham, poor old Whittaker’s secretary. What about her?”

“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet,” returned Anthony. “Perhaps you would remedy the omission some time this morning? But in reply to the query you raise concerning her, I certainly think she had better get out of it for the next couple of nights, say, at least. I think the kitchen staff—the maids and so on—can remain here with us. I can’t see that any peril overhangs them.” He pursed his lips as he came to the decision. “Tell Mrs. Whittaker I’d like to see her as soon as convenient, will you, Colonel?”

Colonel Fane nodded and promptly withdrew.

“Seems properly down in the mouth over the job, doesn’t he, Bathurst?” It was Peter Daventry’s first contribution since he commenced breakfast. “Were he and the Major very close, do you know?”

“According to the dead man, they were at Sandhurst together. Fane looks a good deal the senior of the two—or rather did—but I understand that actually there was very little in it.

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