Edgar Wallace

“ In the meantime our constable had reached a small tavern in the vicinity of Regent Street. He entered the bar and, ordering a drink, took a seat in the corner of the spacious saloon. There were two or three people about; there were two or three men drinking at the bar and talking—men in loud suits, who cast furtive glances at every new-corner. He knew them to be commonplace criminals of the first type. ”

“ Frank, from his place of observation, was well aware that he had caused some consternation. He had seen Sparks turn back hurriedly with Jakobs and re-enter the house. He observed the light go out suddenly on the first floor, and now he had a pretty shrewd idea that they were watching him through the glass panel of the doorway.
There was no more he could learn. So far his business had been a failure. It was no secret to him that Sir Isaac Tramber was an associate of Black’s, or that Jakobs and estimable Sparks were also partners in this concern. ”

“ He jerked up his head, and Frank saw the flush that came to his face. “You are Constable Fellowe,” he said suddenly.
To say that Frank was a little staggered is to express the position mildly. “Yes,” he repeated, “I am Constable Fellowe.”
Whilst he was talking the door of the house had opened. From the position in which he stood Frank could not see this. Black emerged stealthily and came down the steps towards him.
The agent had no other desire than to discover the identity of the man who was shadowing him. He was near enough to hear what the young man said. ”

“ Society is very lenient to its children. There are crimes and sins which it readily, or if not readily, at any rate eventually, forgives and condones, but there are some which are unpardonable, unforgivable. Once let a man commit those crimes, or sin those sins, and the doors of Mayfair are closed for ever against him. Around his head was a cloud of minor scandal, but that which brought down the bar of good society was the fact that he had ridden his own horse at one of the Midland meetings. ”

“ Only one friend he had in the fashionable world, and there were people who said that the Earl of Verlond, that old and crabbed and envenomed man, merely championed his unpromising protégé out of sheer perversity, and there was ample justification for this contention of a man who was known to have the bitterest tongue in Europe. ”

“ I’ll—I’ll—”
“You have an excellent opportunity,” said Frank. His quick eye had detected the figure of a constable on the other side of the road, walking slowly towards them. “There’s a policeman over there; call him now and give me in charge. There is no reason why you shouldn’t—no reason why you should want to avoid publicity of the act.”
“Oh, no, no!” It was the youth who spoke. “Colonel Black, I must come another time.” He turned furiously on Frank. “As to you—” he began, gaining courage from Black’s presence.
“As to you,” retorted Frank, “avoid bad company!” ”

“ But the outside broker is a useful person—especially the outside broker who has a hundred thousand clients. There are stocks of mine which he can recommend with every evidence of disinterestedness, and just now I am particularly desirous that these stocks should be recommended. ”