“It is practically certain that you have the
papers,” he pointed out. “You were
the first person to go up the stairs after Graham had
been rendered unconscious. Joseph admits that
he had been forced to leave him—the orchestra
was waiting to play. He was alone in that little
room. That you should have known of its existence
and his presence there is surprising, but nothing
more. Furthermore, I am convinced that you were
in some way concerned with his rescue later. You
visited Hassan and you visited Joseph. From the
latter you procured the key of the chapel. If
only he had had the courage to tell the truth—well,
we will let that pass. You have the papers, Miss
Van Teyl. I am bidding a great price for them.
If you are a wise woman, you will not hesitate.”
There was a knock at the door. They all three
turned towards it a little impatiently. Even
Pamela and her brother felt the grip of an absorbing
problem. To their surprise, it was Lutchester
who reappeared upon the threshold. In his hand
he held a small sealed packet.
“So sorry to disturb you all,” he apologised.
“I have something here which I believe belongs
to you, Miss Van Teyl. I thought I’d better
bring it up and explain. From the way your little
Japanese friend was holding on to it, I thought it
might be important. It is a little torn, but
that isn’t my fault.”
He held it out to Pamela. It was a long packet
torn open at one end. From it was protruding
a worn, brown pocketbook. Pamela’s hand
closed upon it mechanically. There was a dazed
look in her eyes. Fischer’s fingers stole
once more towards the pocket into which, at Lutchester’s
entrance, he had slipped his revolver.
CHAPTER XIV
Lutchester, to all appearance, remained sublimely
unconscious of the tension which his words and appearance
seemed to have created. He had strolled a little
further into the room, and was looking down at the
packet which he still held.
“You are wondering how I got hold of this, of
course?” he observed. “Just one of
those simple little coincidences which either mean
a great deal or nothing at all.”
“How did you know it was mine?” Pamela
asked, almost under her breath.
“I’ll explain,” Lutchester continued.
“I was in the lobby of the hotel, a few minutes
ago, when I heard the fire bell outside. I hurried
out and watched the engines go by from the sidewalk.
I have always been rather interested in—”
“Never mind that, please. Go on,”
Pamela asked, almost under her breath.
“Certainly,” Lutchester assented.
“On the way back, then, I saw a little Japanese,
who was coming out of the hotel, knocked down by a
taxicab which skidded nearly into the door. I
don’t think he was badly hurt—I’m
not even sure that he was hurt at all. I picked
up this packet from the spot where he had been lying,
and I was on the point of taking it to the office
when I saw your name upon it, Miss Van Teyl, in what
seemed to me to be your own handwriting, so I thought
I’d bring it up.”
