Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

The Chief Inspector of Combat was the first person Anthony saw when he got off the train the next afternoon.He immediately smiled. "I'm back as promised," he said. "Have you come here to prove it?" The Chief Inspector of Combat shook his head. "Mr. Cade, I'm not worried about that. I happen to be going to London. That's all." "Inspector, you have great faith in people." "Do you think so, sir." "No. I think you're deep--very deep. You probably know: 'Deep still water' or something. So you're going to London?"

"Yes, Mr. Cade." "I don't know what business is there?" The detective chief didn't answer. "You're a talkative guy," Anthony said. "That's what I like about you." The Inspector blinked, as if thinking of something far away. "How's your little mission, Mr. Cade?" he asked. "How did that go?" "I got nothing, Inspector. My surmises turned out to be very, very wrong. It's the second time. Exasperating, isn't it?" "May I ask, what is your guess?" "Suspect the French governess. First, because she is the least likely to be suspected. According to the principles of good detective novels, such a person is the most suspect. Second, because she was in her room on the night of the tragedy." There are lights."

"That's not a very strong reason." "You're quite right. Not a very strong reason. But, I found her. It hasn't been long since I've been here.And I also found a suspicious Frenchman snooping around.I think you know everything about him very well, right? " "You mean the man who calls himself Mr. Xie Lie? The man who lives at the Cricketer's Inn? He's a silk merchant." "That's the way it is, isn't it? How is he? What does the detective department think?" "His actions are suspicious," said the Inspector without expression.

"I think it's very suspicious. Well, I can now deduce a reason. The French tutor inside the building, the French outside the building. My conclusion is that they are accomplices. So I hurried to Interview with the lady who lived with Miss Bailan for ten years. I expected to find out that she had never heard of Miss Bailan. But, fighting, I was wrong. Miss Bailan is the real thing." Battle nodded. "Mr. Cade, you still can't stick to that. Women especially can make up a lot of people. I saw a very beautiful woman. She dyed her hair other colors and painted her face with oil paint. The face is sallow, and the eyelids are dyed slightly red. And, the most effective, is to wear a disheveled dress. Knot.

As a result, people who knew her before, nine out of ten would not recognize her identity.Men do not have such favorable conditions.You can try to camouflage it a little bit on the forehead.And, of course, you can change your whole look with a pair of dentures.But we can always be judged by our ears--ears can express a particular personality, Mr. Cade. " "Don't look so hard at my ears, fight," Anthony complained to him. "You make people feel nervous like this." "I'm not talking about fake mustaches and paint," the Inspector General went on. "That's just what the books say. Yes, men are seldom unrecognizable and bewildering. In fact, I know only one man with a genius for disguise. Victor King. Mr. Cade, Have you ever heard of the name King Victor?"

The chief detective asked this question very urgently and very suddenly, so Anthony quickly held back the words that were already on his lips. "King Victor?" he asked thoughtfully instead. "I don't know where, but I seem to have heard of this name." "He is the most famous jewel thief in the world. His father is Irish, his mother is French, he speaks at least five languages, he has been in prison. But this time he just got out of prison for a few months." "Really? So where is he probably now?" "That—Mr. Cade, that's what we want to know."

"It's getting more blurry," Anthony said lightly. "He can't be here, can he? Still, I don't think he'd be interested in statesmen's memoirs—the only thing he's interested in is jewels." "Hard to say," said the Combat Inspector-General. "Perhaps he's already here." "As the second waiter? Great! You'll recognize him by his ears. Then you'll be able to go up three times, what a brilliance!" "You're fond of a little joke, aren't you, Mr. Cade? By the way. What do you think of that strange thing at Steins' place?"

"Steins?" Anthony asked. "What happened there?" "It was in the Sunday paper. I think you may have seen it. A man's body was found beside the road. He was shot. A foreigner, of course. It was in today's paper." "I saw the news about this matter." Anthony said casually. "It's not suicide. It's obvious." "It was not a suicide. No gun was found. The identity of the deceased has not yet been identified." "You seem to be very interested in this matter." Anthony said with a smile. "It has nothing to do with Prince Michael's death, does it?"

His hands are steady now.His eyes were also steady, and he felt that the Inspector was watching him with special attention.Could this be his imagination? "Things of that kind seem to be in vogue at the moment," said the Inspector General. "But, well, that's all right." At this time, the train to London came into the station like thunder.He turned and waved for a red hat to help.Anthony sighed in relief. He wandered precariously through the garden in an unusual mood.He deliberately picked the direction in which he had headed for the mansion that unfortunate night.As he approached, he looked up at the windows and wondered: Could he be sure that he saw the one with the light?

When he was thinking this way, he suddenly made a discovery.There is another small corner on the corner of the building, and another window is built there.If you stand at one place and look over, you can count that window as the first, and the first window built above the meeting hall can be counted as the second.But if you move a few yards to the right, the part built above the chamber looks like the end of the house.That first window was out of sight.Then, the rooms above the chamber will look like the first and second rooms from the end of the room map.Where was he really standing that night when he saw the light flashing?

Anthony found the question difficult to answer.A difference of a yard or so can make all the difference.However, one thing is very clear.He said that the lighted one was the second from the end of the house.That may be wrong.It may also be that the third team now has to figure out who lives in the third room, and Anthony must find out this as soon as possible.He was lucky.In the front hall, Zhuo Dewei had just put the huge silver teapot on the tea tray.No one else was there. "Hello, Zhuo Dewei." Anthony said. "I want to ask you something. Who lives in the third house from the top on the west side? I mean, the one above the council chamber." Zhuo Dewei thought for a moment. "That's the American guest's room—Mr. Fish's." "Oh yes? Thank you." "You're welcome, sir." Zhuo Dewei was about to leave, but suddenly stopped. The desire to be the first to break the news can make an arrogant and assertive person very human. "Perhaps you have heard what happened last night, sir?" "Never heard of it," said Anthony. "What happened last night?" "Someone is trying to steal something, sir!" "No way? Is there something missing?" "No, sir. The thieves were trying to remove the money from the portrait in the Chamber, and were caught by surprise and had to flee. Unfortunately, they escaped." "That's really weird," Anthony said. "The chamber again. Did they break in from there?" "Probably by a broken window, sir." He was satisfied now that his message was of interest.Zhuo Dewei was about to turn around and leave, but suddenly stopped and apologized solemnly. "Excuse me, sir. I didn't hear you come in, and didn't know you were standing behind me." Mr. Ershastein.He turned out to be the one who got hit.He waved his hand in a friendly way. "It doesn't matter, Lao Zhuo. Really, it doesn't matter." Zhuo Dewei retreated with a look of disdain.Ershastein came and sat down in an easy chair.Reply "Hello, Cade, you're back. Heard that little fight last night?" "Understood," Anthony said. "It was a pretty exciting weekend, wasn't it?" "I think the locals did what happened last night," Eshastein said. "It seems to be very amateurish." "Any armor collectors around here?" said Anthony. "It seems a strange thing to collect such things." "It's very strange," said Mr. Ershastein.He paused, then said slowly, "Everything here is unfortunate." There was an almost menacing tone in his tone. "I don't quite understand what you mean," said Anthony. "Why are we left here like this? The body was inspected yesterday, and the prince's body will be transported to London tomorrow. There, they will announce that he died of heart failure. However, no one is still allowed to leave here. He knew no more about it than I did. He sent me to the Inspector-General." "The Chief Inspector of Combat has something to hide." Anthony said thoughtfully. "No one is allowed to leave here. It seems to be a necessary measure in his plan." "But, with all due respect, Mr. Cade, you're gone." "I've got a rope around my leg. I'm sure they're stalking them all the time. There's no way I'm going to get a chance to drop a pistol or something." "Ah, a pistol," said Mr. Ershastein thoughtfully. "I think that weapon hasn't been found yet?" "not yet." "Maybe it was thrown into the lake while passing by the lake." "Very likely." "Where's the Combat Inspector-General? I haven't seen him this afternoon." "He's in London. I met him at the station." "In London? Really? Did he say when he'd be back?" "I heard it's tomorrow morning." Virginia now entered with Lord Judham and Mr. Fish.She smiled at Anthony in welcome. "You're back, Mr. Cade. Did you hear all about our adventure last night?" "Ah, indeed, Mr. Cade," said Hirham Fish. "That's true. It's exciting enough.Did you hear that I mistook Mrs. Redford for a mob? " "Well," said Anthony. "Where are the thugs?" "Escaped," said Mr. Fish regretfully. "Come and make some tea," Lord Judham said to Virginia. "I don't know where Bundo went." Virginia performed the task of pouring tea.Then she came and sat down next to Anthony. "After tea to the boathouse cabin," she whispered. "Bill and I have a lot to tell you." She then eased into the general conversation. Boathouse Cabin talks held as scheduled. Virginia and Bill were very excited to tell him their news. They all thought that rolling a small boat to the center of the lake was the only safe place where they could have a heart-to-heart talk.When they were quite far away, they told Anthony the full story of last night's adventure, and Bill seemed very unhappy.He hoped Virginia wouldn't insist on dragging this colonial guy into it. "It's a strange thing," said Anthony, when they had finished talking. "What do you think?" he asked Virginia. "I thought they were looking for something," she answered quickly. "That idea of ​​a thief is ludicrous.": "They thought the thing—whatever it was—could be hidden in the armor. That was obvious. But why knock on the panels? The move looked more like a search for a secret staircase , or that type of institution.” "There's a priest's cottage in Chimney House, I know," said Virginia. "There is a secret staircase, too, I think. Lord Redham will tell us all that. All I want to know is: what might they be looking for?" "It can't be the memoir," Anthony said. "That was a big bag of manuscripts. Must be a small item. " "George knows, I suppose," said Virginia. "I don't know if I can get him to reveal it. I've always felt there was something behind all this." "You said there was only one person," Anthony continued. "However, there may be another person, because when you chased to the window, you thought you heard someone running towards the door." "It's very quiet," Virginia said. "That could just be my imagination, too." "That's quite possible. But if that's not your imagination, then the second person must be from the mansion. I'm wondering—" "What are you wondering about?" Virginia asked. "Mr. Fish was dressed neatly when he heard someone calling for help downstairs. Why is he so meticulously dressed?" "There must be something wrong here," said Virginia. "And Ershastan. He's been sleeping all the time. That's suspicious, too. Surely he can't be that sleepy?" "And that guy named Boris," Bill said. "He looks like a pure villain. I mean, Michael's servant." "The Chimney Mansion is full of suspicious characters," Virginia said. "I dare say the others are suspicious of us as well. I wish the Inspector-General of Combat hadn't gone to London. I thought he was stupid. Oh, by the way, Mr. Cade. Once or twice I saw that strange-looking Frenchman snooping around the park. " "It's a puzzling thing," Anthony admits. "I've left here to rummage about, without success, and fooling myself. Now take note: I think the whole thing boils down to this question: Did those people find what they were looking for last night?" "What if not?" Virginia said. "Actually, I believe, they didn't find it." "That's it, and I'm sure they'll come again. They know, or they'll know shortly, that the fighting is in London. They'll take the risk and come back tonight." "Do you really think so?" "This is an opportunity. Now, the three of us will organize a working group. Eversley and I hide very carefully in the chamber—" "What should I do?" Virginia interrupted him. "Don't try to exclude me." "Listen, Virginia," Bill said. "It's a man's thing..." "Don't be silly, Bill. I've got a share in it. Make no mistake. The task force is on alert tonight." And so it was decided.Work details have also been finalized.After everyone went back to their rooms to rest that night, the members of the working group quietly went downstairs one by one. They were all equipped with a powerful flashlight, and Anthony had a pistol in his pocket. Anthony had said that he thought there would be another search.However, he thought they would not come from outside.He thought Virginia was right, that someone must have passed her in the dark the previous night.He stood under the shade of an old oak chest of drawers, and at that time his eyes were not on the window but on the door. Virginia squatted behind a figure in aluminum armor on the opposite wall.Bill is by the window. The time passed minute by minute, which seemed particularly lengthy.The clock struck one, then one-thirty, two, two-thirty.Anthony felt stiff and cramped.Slowly he felt that he had been wrong.No one will come tonight. Then, suddenly, he straightened up, immediately alert.He heard footsteps in the corridor outside.Then, there was no sound again.Later, I heard the sound of friction outside the window.Suddenly, the sound stopped and the window was pushed open.A man climbed over the windowsill and entered the room. He stood motionless for half a moment, peering about him as though listening.After a minute or two, I seemed satisfied.He switched on the flashlight he brought and hurriedly looked around the room, apparently seeing nothing unusual.The three watchmen held their breath and waited. He walked over to the panel he had inspected the night before. Then Bill suddenly realized something very embarrassing.He's going to sneeze!The night before, I was desperately chasing the thief in the dew-filled mansion, but I caught a cold.So today I have been sneezing continuously all day.Now sneeze again.This is unstoppable by any force in the world. He tried everything he could think of to hold back.He pressed his upper lip, swallowed hard, tilted his head back, and looked at the ceiling.In the end, I had to grab my nose and pinch it hard.It didn't work, he still sneezed. It was a subdued, controlled, weak sneeze.However, in that dead silent house, there was a sound that disturbed everything. The stranger sprang forward, and at the same moment Anthony sprang into action.He flipped his flashlight away and jumped across with the stranger.In an instant, the two of them writhed on the ground. "Turn on the lights!" Anthony yelled. Virginia is ready right under the light switch.When I turned on the switch this evening, the lights came on.Anthony was on top of the man.Bill leaned over to help him. "Now," Anthony said. "Let's see who you are, my friend." He turned the man he had caught.It was the neat, black-bearded stranger who lived at the Cricketers Inn. "It's really great." He suddenly heard a word of appreciation. They all looked up in surprise.The tall Combat Inspector stood by the open door. "I thought you were in London, Inspector," said Anthony. The Inspector's eyes twinkled. "Really, sir?" he said. "I thought it would be nice if everybody thought I was going to London." "Very well," agreed Anthony, looking at the enemy lying on the ground. To his surprise, a smile appeared on the stranger's face. "Guys, can I get up?" he asked. "You are three to one of me." Anthony pulled him up naturally.The stranger straightened his clothes, turned up his collar, and looked at the inspector alertly. "I want you to apologize," he said. "However, are you a representative of the Metropolitan Police's Detective Department?" "Very well," said the Inspector-General. "Then, I'm going to show you my proof." He smiled regretfully. "I wish I had done this sooner." He took some documents out of his pocket and handed them to the Chief Detective of the Detective Department.At the same time, he turned over the lapel of his jacket and pointed to what was pinned there. The Inspector gave a cry of astonishment.He looked over the papers, then bowed and handed them back to him. "Sir, I'm sorry they treated you roughly," he said. "But, you also know, you asked for it." He smiled, and at the same time noticed the surprised looks on the faces of the other people. "This is a colleague we've been looking forward to for a long time," he said. "Monsieur Lemon, an agent of the Paris Security Service."