Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham

Author:Margery Allingham [Allingham, Margery]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Private investigators, England, Private investigators - England, London (England), Mystery & Detective, Fiction, Mystery fiction, Traditional British, Campion; Albert (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9781933397900
Publisher: Felony & Mayhem
Published: 2007-07-14T23:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 12

VISITATION

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It was opening time at the ‘Gauntlett’ on the evening of the day on which Mr Campion’s letter arrived at the mill, and Eager-Wright and Farquharson hurried out of the bar as the Lagonda appeared in the yard, and Guffy climbed slowly out. This meeting had been arranged at the hasty conference that morning when it had been first decided that Mr Randall should go to town to ‘get the truth’ from Xenophon House. Amanda had been told nothing of the letter, and since there was Lugg also to be kept in the dark, the prince-bereft Court of Averna had decided to confer at the inn.

The three young men went into the deserted saloon bar together. So far Guffy had said nothing, but his woebegone expression told them that their best hopes were dashed.

‘Well, I went there,’ he said at last, a faintly pugnacious expression creeping into his round, good-natured face, ‘and quite frankly I made a row. It’s not a thing one likes to do, but in this case there was no help for it. Finally, I got to see a man called Parrott — an awful bounder — but he seemed sincere, although naturally I didn’t feel like trusting him. He didn’t seem to be a fool, and he took a great deal of trouble to find out who I was before he’d give me any information. But finally, when I’d convinced him that it really was my business, he opened out a bit.’

He looked at his audience with troubled blue eyes.

‘His story is that Campion was offered a hell of a job. He hinted that the amount involved was colossal, but it necessitated prompt action. According to him Campion’s on his way to South America now.’

‘I don’t believe it,’ said Eager-Wright, who was becoming more and more wide-eyed as the regrettable story continued.

‘Nor do I,’ said Guffy stoutly. ‘But the person Parrott went into a lot of details. Apparently he insured his life with the firm and then Parrott saw him on to the Marquisita. himself. They flew from Croydon to Southampton — or so he says.’

‘Campion was doped,’ said Farquharson with conviction. ‘They obviously shanghaied him some way or other. If only that damned note hadn’t been so horribly convincing I should feel like starting a hue and cry.’

Guffy was silent for some moments, and when he spoke it was with the utmost reluctance, his good-humoured kindly face red with shame.

‘He can’t have been shanghaied,’ he said. ‘Not in the ordinary way. This place, Xenophon House, is a cross between the Regent Palace and the Bank of England, with a spot of the Victoria and Albert thrown in. Of course, I believe in Campion. Whatever he’s done, he’s done it for the best. But I think we’ve got to face the fact that he’s gone — for the time being, at any rate. I wish that letter of his had contained some sort of code. I’ve gone over it again and again.

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