Chapter 21 Chapter 21

At ten o'clock that morning, Lord Jadham and his daughter were having breakfast.Duo seemed preoccupied. "Father," she said finally. The Marquess of Judham was absorbed in reading the Times, but did not answer. "Father," Bundo said again, his voice sharper. The Marquis of Judhan was perusing the news about the upcoming auction of rare books with great interest, when she asked him, he raised his head absent-mindedly. "Huh?" he said. "What's the matter with you?" "Yeah, who was that person who was eating breakfast in that seat just now?"

She nodded towards the seat that was clearly already occupied.The rest are waiting. "Oh, what's his name?" "Fat Ike?" Bando and her father have enough inductance between them, so they can understand each other in a sentence that is easy to be misunderstood. "That's the name." "Didn't I see you talking to the detective this morning before breakfast?" Lord Jadham sighed. "Yes. He stopped me in the lobby. I really think the time before breakfast is sacrosanct. I've had to go abroad. Everything here is too much for me—"

Bando interrupted him abruptly. "what did he say?" "He said that now anyone can leave as they please." "Ah!" said Bundo, "that's good. That's just what you need." "I know. But, he didn't just tell me it was over. He went on to say that even so, he still wants me to keep everyone here for a few more days." "I don't understand," Bundo said, wrinkling his nose. "Too confusing, too contradictory," Marquis Jadham complained. "And before breakfast." "What do you say?" "Of course I agree. It's no use arguing with these people. Especially before breakfast," continued Lord Judham, returning to his most vexed matter.

"So far, who have you retained?" "Cade. He got up early this morning. He's going to stay. I don't object to that. I don't know the man well, but I like him—I like, like him very much." "Virginia too," said Bundo, drawing a design on the table with her fork. "what?" "Me too. But, that doesn't seem to matter." "I also invited Eshastan." Marquis Jadhan continued. "how?" "But, unfortunately. He has to go back to London. Mind you, don't forget. Ji told them to prepare a car to take him to catch the 10:50 train. "

"Ok." "Now, as long as I can get rid of Fei Xi." said the Marquis of Judhan, his heart was lifted. "I thought you liked talking to him about your musty old books." "I like it, I like it. Besides, I liked talking to him a few days ago. But when you find that it's just you" talking, it feels very monotonous.Fish was intrigued.but.He never automatically expresses an opinion. " "It's better than hearing people talk about it all the time," said Bundo. "Like when we were talking to George Lomax." When Marquis Jadham thought of this, he couldn't help shivering.

"George's performance on the podium was very good." Bundo said. "I applauded him myself, but I always knew he was talking nonsense. And, anyway, I'm a Socialist—" "I know, dear, I know," said Lord Judham hastily. "Well," said Bundo, "I'm not going to bring up political issues at home. That's what George used to do—speech in private. Congress should pass a bill to get rid of that habit." "Exactly," said Lord Judham. "Where's Virginia?" Bundo asked. "Did she stay with you?" "The fight said to keep everyone."

"He said firmly! Did you ask her to be my stepmother?" "I don't think there's much use in asking," said Lord Judham sadly, "though she called me 'Darling' last night, but this is the great fault of these good-natured, pretty young women: what do they say? They all say it, but they’re not serious.” "Yes." Bundo agreed. "It's more hopeful if they throw your boots at you, or try to bite you." "You young people have such unpleasant thoughts about love," said Lord Jadham sadly. "This is what I saw in the 'Chief' book," said Bando. "Desert love. Throw her around, etc."

"What is 'chief'?" Marquis Jadhan just asked. "Is that a poem?" Bundo looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and pity.Then she stood up and kissed the top of his head. "Dear old papa," she said, and went briskly out the French window. The Marquis of Judhan turned back and continued to read the news from the rare book sales office. He was startled afterwards by Mr. Hirham Fisher's sudden greeting.It turned out that Mr. Fish came again quietly as usual. "Good morning, Lord Judham." "Ah, good morning," said Lord Judham. "Good morning, the weather is fine."

"It's a nice day," said Mr. Fish. He poured himself a cup of coffee.For food, he took a slice of toast without butter and jam. "I heard that the gate control has been lifted. Is that correct?" he asked after a minute or two. "Are we all free to leave?" "Yes—oh—yes," said Lord Judham. "Actually, I hope" I mean,"--his conscience prompted him to say--"that I should be honored--honoured, if you would stay a few days longer. " "Why? Lord Judham—" "This party is terrible, I know it." Marquis Jadham said hastily.

"Too bad. I wouldn't blame you if you tried to escape." "You have misunderstood me, Lord Judham. What has happened is very sad. No one can deny that. But the English country life fascinates me greatly, and all the great men of history have lived in it." The neighbors lived in the country house. I'm interested in studying this environment.That's something we don't have at all in America.I would be more than happy to accept your offer to stay. " "Ah, well," said Lord Judham. "That's it. Very low man, very honored." He managed to pull himself together and pretend to be very courteous, and talked about him in a low voice.

Had to go talk to his industry chief and escape from that room. In the vestibule, he saw Virginia just come downstairs. "Would you like me to accompany you to breakfast?" Marquis Judhan asked softly. "I already used it in bed, thank you. I was sleepy this morning." She yawned. "Perhaps it was a bad night?" "Strictly speaking, the night was not unpleasant. From a certain point of view, it was a very good night. Ah, Lord Judham"—she took his arm, and gave it a firm squeeze— "I really enjoyed myself. What a darling you asked me to come and play!" "So, you stay here for a few more days, okay? The Chief Inspector of Combat is about to lift the - oh - access control. But, I especially want you to stay. So does Bundo." "Of course I'm staying. It's very kind of you to keep me in this way." "Ah!" said Lord Judham. He sighed. "What's your secret trouble?" said Virginia. "Did someone bite you?" "Exactly," said Lord Jadham sadly. Virginia showed an inexplicable look. "You don't feel like taking a boot and throwing it at me, do you? No, I know you won't. Ah, well, it doesn't matter." Lord Judham wandered away mournfully, and Virginia went by a side door into the garden. She stood there for a while.Breathing the fresh air of October, that kind of breath felt very refreshing in her slightly tired situation. She suddenly felt cold, and found that the Chief Inspector of Combat was beside her.This person seems to have an extraordinary ability, and can suddenly fall from the sky without anyone noticing. "Good morning, Mrs. Rivers, I hope you are not too tired?" Virginia shook her head. "We had a very exciting night," she said. "It was worth the lack of sleep. The only regret is that after that event, today seems a little monotonous." "There is a very shady place under that fir tree. Would you like me to move you a chair to sit on?" "If you think I'd better do that, of course," said Virginia gravely. "You're quick, Mrs. Redford. Yes, it's true. I did want to speak to you." He moved a wicker chair to the lawn.Virginia followed him with a pad under her arm. "That corridor is really a very dangerous place," said the chief inspector. "I mean, if we want to talk in private." "Inspector General. I'm feeling excited again." "Oh, nothing important." He took out a large pocket watch and looked at it. "At ten-thirty. I am going to report to Mr. Romax at Weavern Abbey in ten minutes. There is plenty of time. I just wanted to know if you would tell me more about Mr. Cade." "About Mr. Cade?" Virginia was taken aback. "Yes, for example, where did you know him. How long have you known him, and so on." The combat inspector general's attitude is very calm and kind.He even avoided looking at her, as he found it unnerving for her. "It's harder than you think," she said at last. "He did me a big favor once—" The inspector general interrupted her. "I would like to say a word before you. Last night, after you and Mr. Eversley had retired to your room, Mr. Cade told me all about those letters and about the man who was killed at your house. " "He told you?" said Virginia, startled. "Yes, that was very clever. It would clear up a lot of misunderstandings. There's only one thing he didn't tell me—how long has he known you? Now I have my own opinion on that. Wish you would tell me , see if I am right. I think you first saw him the day he came to your place in Bond Street. Ah, I can see that I am right. It is so." Virginia said nothing.For the first time she felt that she was afraid of this deadpan, unmoved man.She only realized now that Anthony had said that the Chief Inspector of Combat had said this. Individuals are alert. . "Did he tell you about his life?" continued the Inspector-General. "I mean his life before South Africa. Did he talk about Canada? Or before that, in Sudan? Or about What about his childhood?" Virginia just shook her head. "But I'll bet he's got some experience worth mentioning. You can't mistake a man's face if he's lived a brave, dangerous life, and if he likes he'll tell you something. Interesting thing." "Why don't you telegraph that friend of his, McGrath, if you want to know his past life?" Virginia asked. "Oh, we telegraphed. But he seems to be somewhere in the interior. Mr. Cade says he was in Bulawayo, and no doubt he was there. But it's not known that he went to South Africa. What was he up to? He's only been working in a travel agency for about a month." He took out his watch again. "I have to go, the car is waiting for me." Virginia watched him return to the mansion.However, she still sat without moving. She wished Anthony had shown up to talk with her.Instead it was Bill Eversley, who kept yawning. "Thank the Lord I have the opportunity to speak to you at last, Virginia," he complained. "Then, Bill, Darling! You must take your time, or I shall cry." "Did someone bully you?" "It's not necessarily bullying, but questioning me, wanting to turn out my internal organs. I feel as if an elephant is stepping on me." "It's not a fight, is it?" "Yes, fighting. He's a terrible man." "Okay, forget about the fighting. Virginia, I love you as hell—" "Don't talk about that this morning, Bill. Anyway, I always tell you that the most knowledgeable people don't propose before lunch." "Gee," Bill said. "I may propose to you before breakfast." Virginia was very disgusted. "Bill, you've got to be sensible and smart. I want your advice." "Once you make up your mind and say you married me, I'm sure you'll feel a lot better. You know? It's happier and more stable that way." "Listen to me, Bill. Proposing to me is your paranoia. Men propose when they're bored and can't think of anything to say. Remember my age, and my widowhood, and go to a pure maiden." Courtship." "My dear Virginia—oh, damn it! That French fool is coming at us." It's really Mr. Lemon, Blackbeard, still straight. "Good morning, ma'am. I suppose you are not tired?" "Not tired at all." "Excellent. Good morning, Mr Eversley." "How about we—the three of us, go for a walk together?" suggested the Frenchman. "How are you, Bill?" Virginia said. "Ah, well," said the unhappy young man beside her. He struggled to get up from the grass.So, the three of them walked over slowly.Virginia walked between the two men.She felt at once a strange excitement lurking in the Frenchman, but she could not see where it came from. Presently, with her usual ingenuity, she was bringing him into conversation with her at his leisure.She asked him something, listened quietly to his answer, and soon teased him with a lot of words.He soon started telling them anecdotes about the famous King Viktor.When he speaks, with considerable hatred, of the several times King Victor was able to outwit the French detective, he tells it very amusingly. Although Lemon was truly engrossed in telling his story, Virginia always had the feeling that he had other goals.Moreover, she could judge that Lemon deliberately chose the way through the mansion according to his own intentions under the cover of his story. They were not just loitering, but he deliberately led them in one direction. Suddenly, his story breaks off.He looked back.At this time, he was standing at the place where the driveway cut off the mansion.That was just before the sharp turn next to a bush.Lemon was watching intently a car approaching from the direction of the building. Virginia followed where he was looking. "That's the luggage cart," she said, "to take Eshastein's luggage and his valet to the station." "Is that so?" Lemon said.He looked at his watch and was startled. "I'm sorry, but I took a longer walk than I intended--it's a pleasure to be with such lovely people. Do you think I can give them a lift into the village?" Lemon walked to the driveway, gestured with his arm, and the luggage cart stopped.He explained a word or two to them and climbed into the car behind the car.He waved his hat politely to Virginia, and drove away. The other two watched the car drift away inexplicably.Just as the car was rounding the bend, a suitcase fell into the driveway and the car continued on. "Come on," Virginia said to Bill. "We're about to see something interesting, that suitcase thrown out." "Nobody noticed that thing," Bill said. They ran down the driveway toward the fallen luggage.Just as they were running, Lemon came on foot from the bend in the road. "I had to get out of the car," he said kindly. "I found myself leaving one thing behind." "This one?" Bill said, pointing to the suitcase. It was a handsome thick pigskin case with H. I．Shorthand for . "What a pity!" said Lemon calmly. "This thing must have fallen, shall we move it from the road?" Without waiting for an answer, he picked up the suitcase and carried it to the side of a row of villages.He bent down, and the moment something flashed in his hand, the lock of the box was unlocked. He said a word quickly and with authority, and the voice was completely different! "That car will be here soon," he said. "Read it?" Virginia looked back toward the mansion. "I can't see it." "it is good." He reached out and deftly poured out the contents of the box: bottles with gold caps, silk pajamas, socks of various colors.Suddenly, his whole body became stiff.He found something that looked like a bag of silk underwear, and he opened it quickly. Bill suddenly gave a little cry.In the center of that wrapping cloth was a heavy pistol. "I heard a car horn," Virginia said. Lemon repacked the box like lightning.The pistol, he wrapped it in his silk handkerchief, put it in his pocket.He snapped the lock on the box and turned quickly to Bill and said: "Take it, madam, go with you, stop the car, and explain that the box fell from the car. Don't mention me." Bill walked quickly down the driveway just as the Lancaster coupe had just rounded the bend with Eshastein in it.The driver gradually slowed down, and Bill threw the box at him. "Just fell off that luggage cart," he explained to him. "We saw it by chance." Just for a split second, he saw a startled yellow face.The financier was watching him intently at that moment.Then, the car moved on. They came back to find Lemon.He stood there with the pistol in his hand, looking smug. "When you step through the iron shoes, you can't find it," he said. "It's really hard to find anywhere," he said. "Finally found."