The Case of the Black Twenty-Two by Flynn Brian

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

CHAPTER XII

THE SECOND SCREEN OF MARY STUART

Goodall turned to Clegg and fired off a rapid fusillade of instructions to which that worthy gave the most respectful attention. “At once, Inspector?” he questioned.

“Quicker than that,” snapped Goodall, “and stand no nonsense from anybody.”

Anthony gave him a glance of approval. Then watched Clegg depart with heavy and important tread. “Tell Mr. Charles Stewart we should like to speak to him for a moment,” he called to the Sergeant as he made his way towards the hall—“you’ll find him close handy.” Goodall then came forward.

“I want Mr. Stewart,” he said. “He promised that I should interview Miss Lennox and the late Mr. Stewart’s secretary—also I’m afraid I’ve been keeping him waiting.”

“Would you mind postponing the interviews for a little while, Inspector?” asked Anthony. “I’ve another suggestion to make.”

“Let’s hear it then.”

“Please yourself, of course,” proceeded Anthony, “have them in now by all means if you consider it very important. But what I was going to suggest was this. I should very much like to have a look at this Museum Room of Mr. Stewart’s. I’ve got a shrewd idea that it won’t prove to be entirely unprofitable.”

Goodall thought for a moment and then signified his agreement. “Very well, Mr. Bathurst—that will suit me very well—I can see the others later.”

As he spoke Charles Stewart returned.

“That trifling matter of the Museum Room, Mr. Stewart,” exclaimed Anthony. “Did you remember to get that little catalogue from Mr. Llewellyn that you promised me? If you did I should like to go in there and have that tour of inspection I discussed with you last evening.”

Stewart made an exclamation of regret. “My apologies, Mr. Bathurst, it slipped my memory—but I’ll soon rectify that.” He touched the bell. “Mr. Llewellyn,” he said as the secretary appeared, “didn’t you compile for my father some time ago a catalogue of the contents of the Museum Room?”

Anthony watched the secretary’s face with the utmost intentness as he replied. “Yes, Mr. Charles. That is so! Your father was very keen on having it done.”

Charles Stewart nodded eagerly. “Bring me a copy, will you, please? In here—at once!”

Llewellyn left quite imperturbably and Stewart offered a hint of explanation to the others. “My father thought a tremendous lot of Llewellyn, gentlemen—and one of the reasons of his great confidence in him was because of Llewellyn’s keen interest in all of my father’s concerns. He wasn’t a chap who just did his bare duty and no more—he seemed able to identify himself intimately with each one of my father’s many interests—and not least with his mania for collecting.”

Anthony stopped him. “Is Llewellyn a ‘devotee’ of the ‘antique artistic’?” he asked.

“My father found him a most zealous assistant in it, Mr. Bathurst,” replied Charles Stewart, “that’s all I can tell you. I’m afraid I was much less interested myself.”

A tap on the library door heralded the secretary’s reappearance. “There is a copy of what you wanted, Mr. Charles,” he declared. Stewart took it and rapidly glanced over it.

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