The Middle Temple Murder eBook

J. S. Fletcher
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 295 pages of information about The Middle Temple Murder.

The Middle Temple Murder eBook

J. S. Fletcher
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 295 pages of information about The Middle Temple Murder.

“Then, if you do go down,” suggested Crowfoot, “go to the old ’Yellow Dragon’ in the High Street, a fine old place.  Quarterpage’s place of business and his private house were exactly opposite the ‘Dragon.’  But I’m afraid you’ll find him dead—­it’s five and twenty years since I was in Market Milcaster, and he was an old bird then.  Let’s see, now.  If Old Ben Quarterpage is alive, Spargo, he’ll be ninety years of age!”

“Well, I’ve known men of ninety who were spry enough, even in my bit of experience,” said Spargo.  “I know one—­now—­my own grandfather.  Well, the best of thanks, Crowfoot, and I’ll tell you all about it some day.”

“Have another drink?” suggested Crowfoot.

But Spargo excused himself.  He was going back to the office, he said; he still had something to do.  And he got himself away from the Octoneumenoi, in spite of Starkey, who wished to start a general debate on the wisest way of expending the club’s ready money balance, and went back to the Watchman, and there he sought the presence of the editor, and in spite of the fact that it was the busiest hour of the night, saw him and remained closeted with him for the extraordinary space of ten minutes.  And after that Spargo went home and fell into bed.

But next morning, bright and early, he was on the departure platform at Paddington, suit-case in hand, and ticket in pocket for Market Milcaster, and in the course of that afternoon he found himself in an old-fashioned bedroom looking out on Market Milcaster High Street.  And there, right opposite him, he saw an ancient house, old brick, ivy-covered, with an office at its side, over the door of which was the name, Benjamin Quarterpage.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE “YELLOW DRAGON”

Spargo, changing his clothes, washing away the dust of his journey, in that old-fashioned lavender-scented bedroom, busied his mind in further speculations on his plan of campaign in Market Milcaster.  He had no particularly clear plan.  The one thing he was certain of was that in the old leather box which the man whom he knew as John Marbury had deposited with the London and Universal Safe Deposit Company, he and Rathbury had discovered one of the old silver tickets of Market Milcaster racecourse, and that he, Spargo, had come to Market Milcaster, with the full approval of his editor, in an endeavour to trace it.  How was he going to set about this difficult task?

“The first thing,” said Spargo to himself as he tied a new tie, “is to have a look round.  That’ll be no long job.”

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Project Gutenberg
The Middle Temple Murder from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.