H. C. Bailey

“ Then he began to talk about himself, how he was senior of the juniors in his counting-house and bore vast responsibilities, but was not as much honoured by the firm as he could wish. Solid ability, he considered, was less respected in modern business than push and bounce and brag. In those qualities he was, he owned, deficient. It sometimes made one feel fed up with the city to see how the hustlers got on. Mr. Hopkins did not like hustling, preferred the country—fields and all that: kind of open, kind of restful.
Miss Fuller took him up eagerly. She adored the country. ”

“ From much incoherent raving he extracted that they had had breakfast with their parents and that the nursery dinner was also the servants' dinner and Mrs. Morley's lunch. “I thought so,” said the young doctor cheerfully. “Who's been giving them sweets?”
“It's that wicked girl!” said Mrs. Morley. “I know it is,” and with a shriek called Miss Fuller. “What have you been giving my children, you hateful, wicked creature? Oh, I'll make you pay for it! You——”
“Gently,” said the young doctor; “gently, please.” But Miss Fuller's behaviour did not commend itself to his vast knowledge of human nature. ”

“ It was, you see, equally wonderful to take a girl to a theatre and to go to a theatre with a man. The play which they saw is of no importance, though an immortal memory to the girl. It would be cruel to record the passages at which she wept. The only moment of the evening interesting to us occurred on the way home.
They travelled by train. As usual at the hour when theatres empty, the platform was crowded. Mr. Hopkins and Miss Fuller stood near the edge. Just before their train came in, there was the familiar stir and surge forward. Miss Fuller fell down upon the line. ”

“ The solicitor went in. Mr. Hopkins asked for Inspector McMonnies, and the detective appeared and conducted Mr. Hopkins to a place whence unobtrusively they commanded a view of the audience in court.
It was not large. Mr. Hopkins easily made sure that the mysterious cat-like man had not come, and said so with dismay. “Well, it's not the only way to get him, young fellow,” the detective said. “Go easy.” So they waited while the magistrate got into his stride over the routine of petty offences. “Hullo! Here's a gent with something on his liver! Not our man, eh?” Mr, Hopkins shook his head. ”

“ If he had pushed the bicycle he would have come to the top of the hill more comfortably and sooner, but Mr. Hopkins had pride: bowed, palpitating and panting, he stayed in the saddle and so at length, and damply, arrived. You would not have supposed that he was out for pleasure. One Tree Hill is a bad road which leads to nowhere. But Mr. Hopkins had a chronic longing for hedgerows and green fields and a wide prospect. Within the radius of Mr. Hopkins's bicycle there is no prospect so wide as that which Stretches away from the northern slope of One Tree Hill. ”

“ D'you know any other fellow might send her sweets?”
“She don't know any other fellows. She's not the kind of girl. Besides, where's the sense of it? I tell you, she don't like sweets. Don't touch 'em. Won't touch 'em.”
“Luck for her,“said the detective. “Now, young fellow——” and he told Mr. Hopkins of the box of chocolates and the poisoned children and the charge of attempted murder. The first effect was to stupefy Mr. Hopkins. The second was to make him rage furiously against Mrs. Morley. ”

“ Hopkins would think her rather servile, she explained apologetically that you had to think of things like that. Of course being nursery governess wasn't like being in service, but still you had to be careful. Once she never thought that she would have to go and earn her living in other people's houses. Her mother had had such a nice little stationery and fancy shop, but when mother died there was nothing left of the business after debts were paid.
Mr. Hopkins sighed sympathy. From his counting-house experience he knew something of the finances of little shops. “Father not living?” ”

“ Hopkins told him of the man who first had accosted her from the motor-car, been seen again and again following her, and at last had watched the house on the day of the poisoning. Told him too of the accident and the three motor-cars on One Tree Hill, of the accident with the motor-bus and the accident with the train.
The detective did not conceal that he was impressed. “It's a deal of accidents for one girl, I must say. And your cat-faced gent is deuced attentive. But why, my lad? I ask you, why?”
“Ain't you a detective?” said Mr. Hopkins, with contempt. ”

“ They live very happily, with, at present, two children in a big house under the Sussex downs, and each of them dislikes London more than ever and loves the country better. But the country folk do not think Mr. Hopkins much of a sportsman. ”

“ You come along and see your girl and tell her you haven't got cold feet. You get a solicitor—Billy Fish is your man—to speak for her in court to-morrow—perfect answer and a remand is the lay—and you be at the court and ask for me. If your cat-faced cove is so mighty keen he'll be there. Come along now. Tell me. Has she got any people of her own? ”

“ Also of Johannesburg. Which is still in South Africa, my lad.”
Inspector McMonnies made it clear that he disapproved of levity. “And what might be your business with Dr. Goldwyn Eaves, Mr. Goldstein?”
“What a lot you do know at Scotland Yard to be sure!” the little Jew laughed. “I don't mind, bless you. All my cards on the table. Ever hear of old Joe Fuller? Came to Jo'burg on his uppers twenty years ago. Made a cool hundred thousand keeping store, keeping pubs—— ⁠never mind. Never had a day's illness till he struck up with Dr. Goldwyn Eaves. We did his business, made his will. ”

“ Outside the court the cat-like man sprang into a taxicab which was waiting for him, and crying, “Back to the hotel,” was borne off. The little Jew shouted to another taxi, and as it drew in to the kerb said incisively: “After that cab! Don't lose it for a dollar.”
He stepped in, he was just shutting the door, when Inspector McMonnies pulled it open again and jumped in, calling to Mr. Hopkins, “Come on, young fellow.” Mr. ”

“ Everything to wife and daughter of Easton, Sussex, England, if still living. If not, everything to dear Dr. Eaves for his unremitting attention. Then he died. Everything in order. Only he died very quick and convenient after that will was signed. Then Dr. G. Eaves went on holiday. ”