登陆注册
5159200000052

第52章

"Well, my dear, she isn't your kind, of course, but I've known her, and known of her, for several years.She, and those she associates with, work the de luxe game.""The de luxe game?What is it?"

"In brief, it's a blackmailing scheme.A woman of the type of Miss Tighe, to give her one of her names, associates herself with some men.They arrange to have a set of some books - usually well known enough and of a certain value - bound in expensive leather - full morocco - hand tooled and all that.They call on rich men and women, and induce them to buy the expensive and rare set, of which they say there is only one or two on the market.

"Sometimes the sales are straight enough - particularly where women are the buyers - but the books, even if delivered, are not worth anything like the price paid.

"But, in the case of wealthy men the game is different." "Different?""Yes, particularly where a woman like Morocco Kate is the agent.They are not satisfied with the enormous profit made on selling a common edition of books, falsely dressed in a garish binding, but they endeavor to compromise the man in some business or social way, and then threaten to expose him unless he pays a large sum, - ostensibly, of course, for the books.

"Morocco Kate, who called on you, has more than one killing to her credit in this game, and she has managed to keep out of jail because her victims were afraid of the publicity of prosecuting.And it was so foolish of them for, in most cases, it was just mere foolishness on their part, and nothing criminally, or even morally, wrong, though they may have been indiscreet.""And you think my father - "

I don't know anything about it, Viola, my dear!" was the prompt answer."Your father may have dealt in a legitimate way with this woman,buying books from her because she cajoled him into it, though he could have done much better with any reputable house.As I say, he may have simply bought some books from her, and not have made the final payments on account of his death.Whether the contract he entered into is binding or not I can't say until I have seen it.""But I found nothing about books among his papers!""No?Then perhaps it was a verbal contract.Or he may have been - " The colonel stopped.Viola guessed what he intended to say.

"Do you think he was - Do you think this woman may make trouble?" she asked bravely.

"I don't know.We must find out more about her.If she comes again, hold her and send for me.I didn't want her to see me to-day to know that I was on this case.But I don't mind now.""Oh, suppose there should be some - some disgrace?""Don't worry about that, Viola.But now, I have some rather startling news for you."Oh, more - "

"Not exactly trouble.But Captain Poland has gone away - his place is closed.""The captain gone away!" faltered the girl.

"Yes.I wondered if you knew he was going.Did he intimate to you anything of the kind?"The colonel watched Viola narrowly as he asked this question.

"No, I never knew he contemplated ending the season here so early," Viola said."Usually he is the last to go, staying until late in October.Is there anything - ""That is all I know - he is gone," said the detective."I wanted to ask him about that fifteen-thousand-dollar matter, but I shall have to write, I suppose.And the sooner I get the letter off the better.""Please write it here," suggested Viola, indicating the table where pens, ink and stationery were always kept."I am going to look again among the papers of the private safe to see if there was anything about books - the Arabian Nights, she said it was.""Yes, that's her favorite set.But don't worry, my dear.Everythingwill come out all right."

And as Viola left him alone in the library, the detective added to himself:

"I wonder if it will?"

Colonel Ashley wrote a brief, business-like letter to Captain Poland, addressing it to his summer home at Lakeside, arguing that the yachtsman would have left some forwarding address.

Then, lighting a cigar, the colonel sat back in a deep, leather chair - the same one Morocco Kate had sat in and perfumed - and mused.

"There are getting to be too many angles to this," he reflected."I need a little help.Guess I'll send for Jack Young.He'll be just the chap to look after Jean and follow that French dope artist to his new place, provided he leaves here suddenly.Yes, I need Jack."And having telephoned a telegram, summoning from New York one of his most trusted lieutenants, Colonel Ashley refreshed himself by reading a little in the "Compleat Angler."Jack Young appeared at Lakeside the next day, well dressed, good looking, a typical summer man of pleasing address.

"Another diamond cross mystery?" he asked the colonel."How is your golf?" was the unexpected answer.

"Oh, I guess I can manage to drive without topping," was the ready answer."Have I got to play?""It might be well.I'll get you a visitor's card at the Maraposa Club here, and you can hang around the links and see what you can pick up besides stray balls.Now I'll tell you the history of the case up to the present."And Jack Young, having heard, and having consumed as many cigarettes as he considered the subject warranted, remarked:

"All right.Get me a bag of clubs, and I'll see what I can do.So you want me to pay particular attention to this dope fiend?""Yes, if he proves to be one, and I think he will.I'll have my hands full with Blossom, Morocco Kate and some others.""What about Poland and Bartlett?"

"Well, Harry is still held, but I imagine he'll be released soon, Jack.""Nothing on him?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that.You know my rule.Believe no one innocent until proved not guilty.I can keep my eye on him.Besides, he's pretty well anchored.""You mean by Miss Viola?" "Yes."

"How about the captain?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 三十六计大全集

    三十六计大全集

    有人说《三十六计》是南北朝时刘宋名将檀道济所作,但具体作者和准 确成书年代都已不可考。全书共分六套计,即胜战、敌战、攻战、混战、并战、败战等计。在这六套计中,每一套均包含有六条具体计谋,总共三十六计,集历代兵家智慧之大成。 本书在结构安排上,分为原文、注释、译文、兵家活用、商家活用、职场活用、处世活用等板块。全面解析经典智慧,给读者以人生启迪。所选的 荟萃古今中外的精彩案例,不但能让你从先人那里得到启示,学会深谋远虑 ,而且能让你在处理各种复杂事务时,更加得心应手,找到自己的成功之路 。
  • 主母无心

    主母无心

    成功人士是变态的,成功人士的老婆是更变态的,这样才能打倒变态。这是一个变态老公勤勤恳恳培养变态老婆来打压自己的故事。前世:她叫安怡,身为间谍死于非命,因为造杀孽过多被发配到阿鼻地狱永世不得超生,但她心理是坚强的,灵魂是强大的,在受苦之余不遗馀力的利用八方资源贿赂各方地府官员。在她百年来不懈的努力中,官吏和小鬼牵了姻缘,女鬼和男鬼暗通曲款,麻将扑克风行,白天搭伙扎金花砌长城,晚上结伴偷香火,油锅改成了舞池,刑具束之高阁,阿鼻地狱被搅和的乌烟瘴气。她被踢回人间,阎罗王向她保证她绝对长命百岁九九轮回永世为人。死的时候千万不要回地府喝孟婆汤,赶紧投胎永远不见。今生:皇族郡主章无心,懦弱胆小,为了逃避嫁给江湖魔头自杀身亡,再睁眼安怡成了章无心。她阴险狡诈,心狠手辣,为达目的不择手段,更嫁于了江湖魔头成为当家主母。简介:她用她身边的一碗肉换了他一条命。他就用一生的付出来换她一辈子的幸福。他爱她,所以他处处挖坑设计陷阱让她跳,这样她才明白敌人就在身边。他宠她,所以他常常推她跳万丈悬崖,这样她才明白高处不胜寒的道理。他恋她,所以他时时带兵灭国,因为国君肖想她,这样她才明白红颜是祸水,祸水只有他这个祸害配。
  • 道可道:内外修为,人生即道场

    道可道:内外修为,人生即道场

    崇尚自然无为的天道、秉承顺其自然的天人关系、追求返璞归真的精神气质、修炼隐逸之士的人文关怀,这是千百年来道家思想不变的文化基因,也是今人为人、处事的行动策略。本书从深邃的道家文化中摘取精髓,从集理性与感性于一体的道家文化中找到生存的智慧,从深刻而浅显的道家文化中找到快乐的源泉,从而明晰人生的航向、把握生存的本质,并为心灵提供滋养。
  • 至死不渝

    至死不渝

    她喜欢他,这个她此生最宝贝的徒弟章慎,不是那种师傅对徒弟的宠溺,而是女人对男人的喜欢。只是她有什么资格和他在一起呢?楔子本市的地下拳场设在一个极为隐蔽的地方,偌大的场馆里挤满了人。饶是蒋小渝已经是这拳击台上的常客,可她还是不习惯头顶那几盏明晃、刺眼的灯光。震耳欲聋的高呼声混杂在刺鼻的烟酒味里此起彼伏,让过惯了鸟语花香的日子的蒋小渝不免有些头晕。就在她恍惚的间隙,比赛的哨声已经吹响。
  • 鸢飞唳天:绝色世子妃

    鸢飞唳天:绝色世子妃

    身世成谜的云家“假小姐”。一朝梦醒,再睁眼却成了二十一世纪的睿智女总裁。掌恶奴,斗小姐,与家主大人博弈。伏雪狼,斗皇子,助为之效命的云策成为九五之尊。她逐渐绽放光彩,在这人生地不熟的古代,做出了一翻属于她的成绩。可是,这突然冒出来的南宫瑾离是怎么回事?从此以后,我们高贵冷艳的云栈就开始了她英勇无敌的宠夫日常。这是一个前半部分后半部分有点虐,中间部分有点甜的宠文故事。欢迎大家积极入坑哦!
  • 湮灭降临

    湮灭降临

    生命,是浩瀚世界中特别的存在。人,兽,诸神,或是魔王,都是这样的存在,绝无仅有,独一无二。每一个生命都有着不同的命运。不同注定不平等,命运有喜亦有哀。
  • 佛说灌佛经

    佛说灌佛经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 生死课

    生死课

    父母皆从事殡仪馆工作的男孩小久厌恶这晦气的行当,却终究阴差阳错地成为了一名入殓师。生死皆是课,小久在为亡者送行的孤独之路上,有了哪些感悟?离开丹城的时候,小久以为这一生就此告别了殡仪馆。出狱之后,他越来越渴望去一个完全陌生的城市生活。火车站是一座城市彻夜未眠的地方,候车大厅顶端的碘钨灯,照耀着夜里依然喧嚣的站前广场。
  • 奇葩皇子之一统江山

    奇葩皇子之一统江山

    超级天才居然来到古代!还是架空的!但是他的穿越到他身上居然是傻子皇子!我的天啊!
  • 冰天雪地:雪灾与低温灾害的防范自救

    冰天雪地:雪灾与低温灾害的防范自救

    青少年是祖国的未来和希望,在成长过程中应受到各方面的特殊保护;同时,青少年自身要提高自我保护意识,学会一些必要的保护自己的方法和技巧,为自己创造一个安全的学习和生活的空间。对于防范自然灾害来说,居安思危才能处变不惊,防患未然才能游刃有余。青少年必须学会自我保护,树立防范意识,知道防范的方法,逐步培养自我防范的能力。本书以图文并茂、通俗易懂的方式介绍了常见的自然灾害的防范常识,在最短的时间内教会同学们如何面对突然的灾难,保持冷静、勇敢,及时做出最正确的选择!